Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 278

March 31, 2018: Best Novels of 2018 So Far (First Quarter Report!)

Yes, in addition to juggling various projects, I’m also finding the time to read.  A lot.  And, among my recent reads are some real gems, a handful of which were released this year.  What follows is a varied list of My Favorite Novels of 2018 So Far.

If the book blurbs catch your interest and you have the time, do yourself a favor and check them out!

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Bury What We Cannot Take by Kirstin Chen

The day nine-year-old San San and her twelve-year-old brother, Ah Liam, discover their grandmother taking a hammer to a framed portrait of Chairman Mao is the day that forever changes their lives. To prove his loyalty to the Party, Ah Liam reports his grandmother to the authorities. But his belief in doing the right thing sets in motion a terrible chain of events.

Now they must flee their home on Drum Wave Islet, which sits just a few hundred meters across the channel from mainland China. But when their mother goes to procure visas for safe passage to Hong Kong, the government will only issue them on the condition that she leave behind one of her children as proof of the family’s intention to return.

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The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

When Myriam, a mother and brilliant French-Moroccan lawyer, decides to return to work, she and her husband are forced to look for a caretaker for their two young children. They are thrilled to find Louise: the perfect nanny right from the start. Louise sings to the children, cleans the family’s beautiful apartment in Paris’s upscale tenth arrondissement, stays late whenever asked, and hosts enviable kiddie parties. But as the couple and the nanny become more dependent on each other, jealousy, resentment, and frustrations mount, shattering the idyllic tableau.

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A Map of the Dark by Karen Ellis

FBI Agent Elsa Myers finds missing people.

She knows how it feels to be lost…

Though her father lies dying in a hospital north of New York City, Elsa cannot refuse a call for help. A teenage girl has gone missing from Forest Hills, Queens, and during the critical first hours of the case, a series of false leads hides the fact that she did not go willingly.

With each passing hour, as the hunt for Ruby deepens into a search for a man who may have been killing for years, the case starts to get underneath Elsa’s skin. Everything she has buried – her fraught relationship with her sister and niece, her self-destructive past, her mother’s death – threatens to resurface, with devastating consequences.

In order to save the missing girl, she may have to lose herself…and return to the darkness she’s been hiding from for years.

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A River In Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa

Half-Korean, half-Japanese, Masaji Ishikawa has spent his whole life feeling like a man without a country. This feeling only deepened when his family moved from Japan to North Korea when Ishikawa was just thirteen years old, and unwittingly became members of the lowest social caste. His father, himself a Korean national, was lured to the new Communist country by promises of abundant work, education for his children, and a higher station in society. But the reality of their new life was far from utopian.

In this memoir translated from the original Japanese, Ishikawa candidly recounts his tumultuous upbringing and the brutal thirty-six years he spent living under a crushing totalitarian regime, as well as the challenges he faced repatriating to Japan after barely escaping North Korea with his life. A River in Darkness is not only a shocking portrait of life inside the country but a testament to the dignity—and indomitable nature—of the human spirit.

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Grist Mill Road by Christopher J. Yates

The year is 1982; the setting, an Edenic hamlet some ninety miles north of New York City. There, among the craggy rock cliffs and glacial ponds of timeworn mountains, three friends—Patrick, Matthew, and Hannah—are bound together by a terrible and seemingly senseless crime. Twenty-six years later, in New York City, living lives their younger selves never could have predicted, the three meet again—with even more devastating results.

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The Armored Saint by Myke Cole

In a world where any act of magic could open a portal to hell, the Order insures that no wizard will live to summon devils, and will kill as many innocent people as they must to prevent that greater horror. After witnessing a horrendous slaughter, the village girl Heloise opposes the Order, and risks bringing their wrath down on herself, her family, and her village.

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The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is intensified by the mute suffering of the dog, a huge Great Dane traumatized by the inexplicable disappearance of its master, and by the threat of eviction: dogs are prohibited in her apartment building.

While others worry that grief has made her a victim of magical thinking, the woman refuses to be separated from the dog except for brief periods of time. Isolated from the rest of the world, increasingly obsessed with the dog’s care, determined to read its mind and fathom its heart, she comes dangerously close to unraveling. But while troubles abound, rich and surprising rewards lie in store for both of them.

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How To Behave In A Crowd by Camille Bordas

Isidore Mazal is eleven years old, the youngest of six siblings living in a small French town. He doesn’t quite fit in. Berenice, Aurore, and Leonard are on track to have doctorates by age twenty-four. Jeremie performs with a symphony, and Simone, older than Isidore by eighteen months, expects a great career as a novelist. She’s already put Isidore to work on her biography. The only time they leave their rooms is to gather on the old, stained couch and dissect prime-time television dramas in light of Aristotle’s Poetics.

Isidore has never skipped a grade or written a dissertation, but he notices things the others don’t and asks questions they fear to ask. So when tragedy strikes the Mazal family, Isidore is the only one to recognize how everyone is struggling with their grief and perhaps the only one who can help them–if he doesn’t run away from home first.

March 30, 2018: Catching up on the mailbag!

Tam Dixon writes: “Someone recommended Woodford Bourbon. How does it compare to Jefferson’s Ocean?”

Answer: Woodford Reserve is good; Jefferson’s Ocean is outstanding.

arcticgoddess writes: “I always thought a show runner sort of ran to the networks with show ideas. I guess I wasn’t seeing the big picture.”

Answer: Oh, I run show ideas by both broadcasters and production companies. Pitching ideas, in some capacity, is part of the process whether it be an original series idea or your vision for a television adaptation of an existing property.

maggiemayday writes: “What criteria did you use to narrow the field, other than already knowing the candidates? What type of things caught your fancy?”

Answer: Well, as I said in yesterday’s blog entry, I eliminated those directors I’d already worked with.  I also eliminated directors with no solid experience as I’m unlikely to hire them to direct in the immediate future (Not saying it won’t happen in the distant future or I wouldn’t be happy to sit down with them outside of the event).  Candidates who have directed genre warrant further consideration as that’s the type of show I tend to produce.  If they’ve had television experience, all the better since it demonstrates an awareness and ability to work under within a tight schedule.  I also make sure to consider individuals from historically under-represented groups.

Tam Dixon: “How’s the cold?”

Answer: I’m cured!  It’s a miracle!

CJ Colin writes: “I forgot to add as well i have always wanted to build my own house and when i first saw the look of the raza I immediately wanted to build a life size Version of the raza 1:1 scale and make it my house, my family has a bit of land outside of San Antonio texas and I always thought a spaceship house would be perfect to build out there.”

Answer: I want to see photos once you’re done!

CJ Colin writes: ” I am just so saddened right now. I loved this show and to have to say goodbye sucks.”

Answer: Hey, CJ, thanks for the kind words.  It’s truly heartening to hear the various shows I had a hand in were positive sources of inspiration in your life.  Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to bring Dark Matter fans an ending in the form of a miniseries some day.  In the meantime, fingers crossed you’ll enjoy my next show just as much.

Nicole writes: “How could you not include Kumamon on your list?”

Answer: You’re right.  That was an oversight.  He’s an Akemi favorite.

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rissreader writes: “I just noticed that you’re usually posting every other day instead of daily. Has it been a long time?”

Answer: Nope.  Still posting daily.  Could be you’re in a different time zone so that may affect how you see the entries.

shinyhula writes: “What do you eat/drink to keep your mind sharp Joe?”

Answer: Chocolate and bourbon.  That’s it.

gforce writes: “How do you kept this all straight??”

Answer: By breaking the various projects down in a blog post for future reference.

ScientiaFicta writes: “How about Team SG-Pug ?”

Answer:  You got it…

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Unending One writes: “I take it no news on the Stargate front? Will we be doing another tweet storm?”

Answer: Incredibly disappointed we’ve received no news but the recent changes at the studio (with the departure of CEO Gary Barber) suggests everyone there is busy dealing with more pressing concerns.  And, yes, we may have to do another tweet storm.  Eventually.

Jane Woollestone writes: “Can Suji come to Norfolk in the UK and become a Nice Weather Angel too?”

Answer: We’re packing her warm socks!

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March 29, 2018: The Speed Dating Directors Selection Process!

About a month ago, I agreed to take part in a showrunner/director speed meeting event that will essentially involve me sitting down with eight pre-selected directors for 10 minutes each over the course of an evening.  “Wait a minute,”you’re no doubt thinking. “You’re not a freakin’ showrunner!”  Well, while technically true, I was a showrunner and do feel pretty good about my chances of showrunning again in the not too distant future.  So I thought “Why not?”  It would be nice to get to know some people currently not on my radar.

Anyway, I agreed and, last week, was sent a list of over a hundred directors and instructed to choose eight.  Eight out of 120+!

So I sat down, researched credits and reviewed reels.  I crossed off the list the dozen directors I already know simply because I’m already familiar with their work and if they really want to sit down with me, all they have to do is send me an email.

After the first lengthy review, I’d narrowed the list down to 25.  Then, over the course of that afternoon, 16.  Then 10. And, finally 6.  Until I realized I actually needed to choose 8 candidates, so I went back, doubled that number to 12, and then wrestled with indecision for the next two days.

Until it eventually dawned on me that, rather than narrow down my choices to a mere six eight, I could simply reach out to some of the directors on my short list and actually meet up with them outside of the planned event – for LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES!

So I did.  I reached out and ended up meeting three amazingly talented young female directors.  Over the course of a leisurely lunch, we discussed the television industry, their respective backgrounds and longterm goals, and I imparted nuggets of wisdom like: “It’s the small moments that make an episode,” “Don’t be crazy!”, and, most importantly, “Try the grilled octopus.  It’s delicious!”.

I would have reached out to more but I’m amazed by the number of industry professionals who aren’t on twitter.  In some ways, I get it.  I’m not a huge fan of the platform either, but I do recognize its value in providing quick and convenient online connections.

Anyway, to make a long story short (or, more to the point, bring this rambling blog entry to a close), I’ve chosen my eight directors and look forward to learning as much about them as possible – in ten minutes.

In other news.  Hey!  I did an interview for The Digital Fix

Also, the results of my recent online poll are in.  And Akemi breathes a sigh of relief…

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Finally – When we first adopted Suji, she could barely get around, dragging her back legs around wherever she went.  Over a year later, she’s such an avid walker that she gets downright angry if we’re ever late for her morning stroll…

March 28, 2018: Best Comic Book Covers of the Week!

My favorites…

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Abbott (cover by Taj Tenfold)

I can’t decide whether they’re snapping a pic as evidence or for instagram.

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Breathless #1 (cover art by Renzo Rodrigues)

Always a big fan of starkly contrasted minimal color palettes.

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Days of Hate #12 (cover art by Tom Muller, Danijel Zezelj)

Love the pencils and the overwhelming ornangeness that conveys a sense of the bleakest of road trips.

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Doomsday Clock #4 (cover art by Brad Anderson, Gary Frank)

Never have I laid eyes on a more unnerving-looking stack of pancakes.

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Hal Jordan and The Green Lantern Corps #41 (cover art by Tomeu Morey, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona)

Zod at his imposing best.  Holy Smokes, he’s a big boy!

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Saga #50 (cover art by Fiona Staples)

A wonderful cover that really captures the joy and family spirit at the heart of this series.

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Spawn #284 (cover art by Jason Shawn Alexander, Todd McFarlane)

Terrifyingly beautiful.

 

March 27, 2018: Let’s sample Halo Ice Cream!

P.S. I went back for the Candy Bar.  They were already sold out.

March 26, 2018: Developments on Development!

Balls in the air…or, perhaps more appropriately, marbles racing down the track.

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Project A: Delivered a first draft of the pilot to the network along with a revised character breakdown for quick reference and perusal.   This one an epic character-driven SF series.  I dub thee…Comet!

Project B: Have been going back and forth on this one, an adaptation of an upcoming SF novel.  I think we’ve finally got all the kinks worked out, are all on agreement on how we’re going to move forward creatively.  Next step is a follow-up call to proceeded by…a pitch deck?  I dub thee…Mocha Madness!

Project C: This adaptation of an SF pulp classic appears to be on life-support owing to a lingering rights issue.  Considering pulling the plug myself, revising it by dropping all of the elements that originated with the source material, and generating an entirely new series based on my original ideas.  Kind of a shame though.  It would have made a killer show.  I dub thee…Pollo Loco.

Project D: That slow-moving horror novel to screen adaptation is picking up steam. Options are being finalized and the deal-making has begun!  I dub thee…El Capitan!

Project E: Well, damn.  The proposed screen adaptation of this heavyweight SF author’s work is dead – at least so far as my involvement is concerned.  Sadly, they were unable to reach a deal on the option.  RIP H2-Blue.

Project F: Another book to screen adaptation, this one for an upcoming SF novel – also D.O.A.  RIP Black Knight.

Project G: Given the radio silence on this small screen to big screen adaptation of that horror/SF film, I’m calling it D.O.A. as well.  RIP Olympia.

Project H (aka Masked): This one has gone quiet as well and, while I’m disappointed, I’m not surprised.  It’s a combination of two elements broadcasters appear to be actively avoiding right now: superheroes and anthologies.  I dub thee…Marbly McMarbleface.

Project I: An original horror concept I pitched as a series that I’m reconsidering pitching as a movie instead.  My prospective new writing partner patiently awaits. I dub thee…Wisp of Darkness.

Project J: Big(ger) budget co-pro SF series in the vein of BSG.  Lots of excitement about this one a couple of months ago when the company execs and co-creators came into town, but things have been quiet since.  Have been told it’s still in play – but who knows?  I dub thee…Summer Sky.

Project K: One of the projects I was most excited about earlier this year was this proposed adaptation of a foreign format.  Ended up watching the entire first season of the original and then pitching my carefully crafted take.  Decision on this one coming in April.  Hopefully.  I dub thee…Snake’s Tub.

Project L: I pitched my take for the live action adaptation of this anime series early this year as well.  I got the sense my vision for the prospective show would be considerably more action-driven, less topical, than what they’re gunning for, but we’ll see.  I dub thee…Quicksilver.

Project M: Earlier this month, I pitched my take for the adaptation of THIS game I’d certainly heard of but never played.  This one feels like a long shot given but, boy, it would be a helluva fun show.  I dub thee…Tarantula.

Project N: A potential adaptation of this clever comic book series is still in its early stages as I attempt to hammer out a take we can all agree on.  I dub thee…Glassy.

Project O: Meanwhile, I’m preparing to pitch my take on this dark, and darkly humorous, horror series sometime next week.  I practiced my pitch on Akemi who covered her face and informed me: “I can’t watch you show.  Too scary!”  If this one goes, it will go fast.  I dub thee…Reflektor.

Project P: Another horror series, this one an original concept (not my own).  No humor, but the horror narrative and the small town setting really makes this one an appealing prospect.  I dub thee…Deep Ocean.

Project Q: Considering going the comic book route with two genre shows too big to be contained on the small screen.  The first is character-driven, near-future, Earth-based SF while the second is a rip-roarin’ ship-based far-future adventure series in the vein of Dark Matter.  Love the idea of writing an ongoing SF comic book series, unhindered by budget and the whims of programming executives.  And I already have a potential artist in mind.  I dub thee…the Flash.

And sundry original pilots in play that will warrant their own designations if and when they grow closer to fruition.

I really need to get something green lit and into production so I can take a break from all this!

March 25, 2018: These dogs needs their own comic book!

Our cast of characters…

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Suji and Lulu

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Chung

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Clementine

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Chip

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Lola

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Riggs

The comics…

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More Suji Doodles

Suji (and occasionally Lulu)

Chung

Clementine

Chip

Lola

Riggs

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 24, 2018: I Re-Rank Japan’s Top Mascots!

Boy, Japan looooves its mascots.  You’ll find them everywhere, from sporting events to corporate ads, city events to supermarket openings.  Every city and prefecture boasts its own kawaii characters used to promote their local regions. Some of these Yura-chara have soared to celebrity status and need no introduction: Domo-kun, Kumamon, Hikonyan, Sanomaru, Gunman-chan, and, of course, the self-made Funassyi – to name but a few.

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Akemi’s brush with celebrity!

Perhaps rivaling mascots in popularity is the Japanese obsession with ranking things.  So it should come as surprise that, every year, the Yuru-Chara Grand Prix rates 200 (out of some 1400 annual entrants) mascots representing local governments and companies across Japan.  Looking back on 2017’s list, my Top 13 would have broken down a little differently:

#13. Zokirin (Saitama)

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A cross between an elephant and giraffe, I like Zook’s inclusive spirit.

#12. Kiko (Hokkaiko)

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The love child of Chicago’s Benny the Bull and Nintendo’s Mario.

#11. Victoire – Cheval Blanc – Murao (Nagano Prefecture)[image error]

I like the hair, his laid-back look, and the fact he goes by three different aliases.

#10. Sosejin (Kagoshima-ken)

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I feel Sosejin is one tragedy away from turning B-grade super villain.

#9. Hiyawan (Miyake-ken)

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That Where-Are-They-Know? special finds Snoopy enjoying a comfortable retirement.

#8. Kuruppa (Fukuoka Prefecture)

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Rosy-cheeked, cleary concerned, unsteady on his feet – the drunkenest mascot on this list!

#7. Shimabaran (Nagasaki Prefecture)

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A ghost with a great attitude.

#6. Konyudoukun (Mie Prefecture)

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He’s like that kid from Ju-On’s more sociable less killy brother.

#5. Kamisukoko-kun (Ibaraki Prefecture)

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I’m drawn to his smugness.

#4. Komoshika (Mie Prefecture)

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Literally – like a deer caught in the headlights.

#3. Shigako (Nagano Prefecture)

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I can’t get enough of this lovable dimwit who seems to have suffered some sort of magic marker accident.

#2. Momoiro Usahi (Yamagata Prefecture)

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It’s either PTSD or he missed the bus.

#1. Yumeizukin-chan (Nagasaki Prefecture)

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Reminds me of Suji.  In fact, I could see Suji in this outfit, complete with strawberry antler hat.

Check out all of last year’s official rankings here: http://www.yurugp.jp/ranking/?year=2017

March 23, 2018: News of Note!

Check the weather forecast in your area for the Easter weekend as it may call for cloudy periods with a chance of space debris showers –

Out-Of-Control Chinese Space Station Will Crash to Earth Over The Weekend

“According to the European Space Agency‘s Space Debris Office in Darmstadt, Germany, debris from Tiangong-1 will splash down between March 30 and April 2 across the northern hemisphere.”

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Do you live in the yellow shaded area pictured above?  If so, you may want to consider vacationing in the blue shaded areas for those four days (P.S. I hear Greenland is beautiful this time of year.)

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Lab-Grown Meat Is Coming, Whether You Like It Or Not

“Clean meat companies claim the process will be more efficient because you’re only growing the bits you need to feed people—no guts or eyeballs or brains.”

Whoa whoa WHOA!  The guts, eyeballs and brains are the best part!

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Your Guide To Proper Napping

“To help, try to simulate nighttime conditions. Reduce light with a mask, blackout curtains, or—if for some strange reason your office actually invested in one—a workplace nap “pod.”

The workplace nap “pod” – aka Your Office.

Finally, Breaking News!  I have a cold.  My first in about five years!

March 22, 2018: Is it time for Cookie Monster to come out of retirement?

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Welp (Honestly?  I just like saying “Welp!”), I think it’s high time I brought resident film critic Cookie Monster back from extended vacation so he can start catching up on his superhero movie reviews.  It’s been over three years since we last heard from our blue-furred Richard Roeper (not to be confused with the real blue-furred Richard Roeper).  At first blush, it would appear the last movie he reviewed, Kick-Ass 2, may have done him some lastingdamage [“VERDIKT: If you loved de first movie, you’ll hate dis one. But if you hated de first movie, you probably won’t hate dis one as much.”], but in truth, all the blame lies with Avengers: Age of Ultron. According to Cookie in his farewell letter dated October 29, 2014, sitting through Avengers: Age of Ultron “be like watching somebuddy else play video games for tree and half hours!”.  Which is pretty damning when you consider the movie’s runtime was just a shade over two.

Anyway, with Black Panther out and Deadpool 2 poised to hit theaters in a couple of months, I figured now is the time to cajole Monster into getting back in the critic’s seat.  And, of course, there’s Avengers: Infinity War that looks like the perfect movie for anyone with a PhD in Marvel Comics (Everyone else need not apply).  Of course, getting back in the saddle will mean writing up a review of Age of Ultron which, given the fact it’s been almost three years since he saw it, may require a repeat viewing – which would be akin to asking him to relive prom night with Grover’s cousin Shanice.  But, hey, let’s see.  Stranger things have happened.

Prom night with Grover’s cousin Shanice, for one.

Meanwhile, you can check out all of Cookie Monster’s past movie reviews here including his thoughts on…

Man of Steel:  …dis be filmic equivalent of having to attend an uncle’s funeral at Six Flags. Wit unbelievable romantic B story tacked on.

Superman Returns: …more boring den Fozzie Bear’s off-off-off Broadway production of “Old Coronation Street Episodes”.

Catwoman: Verdikt: Dis movie a CATastrophe.  Get it it?  She a cat!

The Incredible Hulk: Verdikt: If dis movie was a frat house, it be Pi Krappa Gamma.

Meanwhile, it looks like them marbles (consult previous blog entry for reference) have rounded the bend and are headed towards the finish line.  Comet is still out in front but Reflektor is closing fast.  Looks like I may need to start binging horror movies.