Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 284

January 30, 2018: Yeaaaaaaaarrrgggh!

THAT is the sound of me hitting the writer’s block or, more accurately, the writer’s mire that has seen me spinning my brain in an attempt to gain creative traction. To be honest, I’m surprised I progressed as far as I have, relatively frustration-free, through the script’s tease and first two acts, 30 pages in before running into my first obstacle, a fairly tricky scene to kick off Act The Third.  Of course, as a trained professional, I know just how to handle situations like these.  I start off by re-reading the outline, then go back to the beginning of the script and revise everything I’ve written to date in the hope that, in so doing, I’ll be pulling off the artistic equivalent of a running start.  THEN I dive right into the scene that has bedeviled me, hoping that sheer momentum will carry me through.  Of course, that never works so, instead, I check my various social media accounts, surf the web, do some research on recommended reads, take the dogs out, have lunch, run errands, pick up a double-chocolate mocha, and, finally, plunk myself back down in front of my laptop.  Unbeknownst to you all, however, I’ll have actually been pulling double duty, running dialogue in my head while doing the aforementioned so that, by the time I get back, I’ll have at least the first two or three dialogue exchanges ready.

The rest of the two page scene will take me most of the afternoon.

Thankfully, things go a little smoother after that and, by the time I run out of steam, I’ve hit the 36 page mark.  So, all in all, not bad.  And, when all is said and done, I’ll have actually shaved a half day off my pace, putting me a full four days ahead of schedule.  And that translates to more time for me to re-read and agonize over what I’ve written!

Meanwhile, my pitch call scheduled for today has been rescheduled to Thursday, sandwiched between a Wednesday ramen lunch with Alex Mallari Jr. (Dark Matter’s FOUR/Ryo Ishida) and a Friday french cuisine lunch with director Bruce McDonald and former Dark Matter Co-Executive Producer Robbie David.  Remind me to take pictures!

P.S.: Just so we’re clear…

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January 29, 2018: Hit me with your comic book recommendations!

I’ve been reading comic books, on and off, for most of my life.  I would go months, sometimes years without reading and then, one day, stop by my local comic shop, pick up every title on the stands and start reading – and keep reading the ones that kept my interest, dropping the ones that failed to hold my attention.  Of course, with the increasing strain of weighty backstories, the complexity of innumerable crossovers, and the reimagining, reinventions, and reboots of old favorites, jumping back in has proven daunting.

Still, digital subscription services like Comixology have helped make it a lot easier. Now, instead of jumping into the middle of a story arc, I can start from the beginning, easily acquiring the back issues online and moving forward from there – should the title grab me.

So, here’s where you come in. I’d like you comic book aficionados to recommend some titles. Since I have a fair amount on my plate and am halfway through a script, I’d like to start small – say, 12-15 different books.  And, to help you steer me right, here are a few of the comic books I enjoyed last year…

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There are a bunch of my favorites writers I definitely plan to check out (Hickman, Simone, King, Liu, Rosenberg, Moreci to name but a few), but I’d love to hear what YOU’RE enjoying.

Recommend me some comic books!

January 28, 2018: Smoooooth sailing!

Alright.  I’m in full script mode.  It usually takes me a few days of procrastinating and general agonizing before I hit my stride, but I’ve hit the ground running on this one.  I figure two weeks to complete a first draft breaks down to roughly four pages a day.  As tonight, I am three and half days ahead of schedule.   Of course, at some point, I’ll hit that wall – that point in the script where I’ll realize I’ve contradicted myself, overlooked a crucial plot point, or written my way into a hole out of which I shall never climb – but until then, it’s smooooooth sailing! Exploration and wonder abound, Harper’s on to everyone, and we’re barreling towards our Holy Shit act out.  What more could you ask for?

I am on a creative high.  OR it could be that roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Akemi made for dinner.

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Though a more appropriate name for the dish would be Amazonian Cauliflower since, instead of using Frank’s Red Hot, Akemi instead basted the cauliflower with an entire bottle of Crazy Jerry’s Brain Damage Mind Blowin (habanero-based) Hot Sauce.  Ten pieces later and I was suffering symptoms of hypoxia.  Fortunately, we had the antidote on hand…

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Yes.  When in doubt, ice-cream it out.

Provided I make it through the night (And, at this point, it’s looking touch and go), I’ll power into the script’s third act tomorrow – and finalize my takes on both the Korean drama and anime series in advance of my call on Tuesday.

Well, off to bed…so that I can stay up and think about the next three scenes.

January 27, 2018: Projects on the go!

When someone asks me about the projects I’m presently working on, I’ll give them a brief rundown to which they’ll invariably respond: “But what if they all go?”  Yes, theoretically, it’s possible that, say, multiple projects could receive a simultaneous green light but, realistically, it’s more likely that none of them receive the go-ahead.  Which is why you really need to hedge your bets and be a bit of a creative multi-tasker.  In truth, the number of projects I have on deck may seem like a lot, but scheduling and prioritizing certainly mak things easier…

ORIGINALS

Ah, now these are the projects that are completely self-generated, from concept to completion.  It may be a verbal pitch or a one page overview or, in some instances, even a finished pilot script.  Over the last few months, I’ve verbally pitched four originals, one of which advanced to the “further exploration” stage before being turned down.  At present, I have two out for consideration.  The first is that SF military pilot I mentioned this past summer.  The other presently exists as a one page overview and is my favorite, a spiritual successor to Dark Matter that offers a similar ship-based, action-adventure approach with colorful characters and an underlying sense of humor.

TAKES

In this case, you were working off someone else’s idea, be it a simple pitch or an adaptation.  Usually, the material has gone out to multiple writers and it’s your job to come up with the best possible vision for a potential television series.  What differentiates it from the source material?  Where will you take it?  What’s the first season plan?  And how do you see the series progressing past that first season? I’ve got a little over a half-dozen of these takes in the works – a comic book, a contemporary SF novel, a contemporary horror novel, a classic SF novel, a Korean drama series, and an anime series – and, if any of them spark some interest, we move onto…

DEVELOPMENT WORK

A broadcaster or production company is investing in you and an idea.  It’s your job to prove to them that their faith in you and said idea has not been misplaced by delivering a phenomenal series overview, bible, and/or pilot script.  I am presently one series overview and 17 pages of a script into one of these.  I have a soft spot for this sci-fi project and the people involved, so I’m really hoping my efforts pay off with a straight to series order sometime this summer.

THE HIRED GUN

And then there are times when you need the assistance of a proven professional like, say, an experienced showrunner, to help reassure a potential broadcaster, lock up a sale, and/or hit the ground running when the green light is given.  Since Dark Matter’s cancellation, I’ve been lucky enough to have been approached about three such opportunities.  Ultimately, none were quite the right fit, but a new project – a brilliant hard SF series that came my way recently – is all sorts of intriguing and, I have no doubt, will be fantastic – with or without my involvement.

Well, as I said, I’m already an act deep into this pilot.  The trickiest scene is behind me, we’ve made planet fall, and we’re about to explore our new surroundings.  I suspect it’ll be smoooooth sailing from there.  Tonight, I switch gears to watch the final five episodes that anime series as I have a call on Tuesday to present my take for a t.v. adaptation (as well as my take for an adaptation of that awesome Korean drama).  And then, it’s an anxious wait to hear word back on my pitches.

I will, of course, keep you posted…

January 26, 2018: Suji!

Eating apples with her sister, Lulu…

Sitting down is a twelve step process…

Trying to figure out how many cookies she can stuff in her little mouth…

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January 25, 2018: Setting up a Steve Bacic Q&A!

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One of the great things about living in downtown Toronto is the likelihood of crossing paths with people I’ve worked with in the past.  Last year, for instance, I ran into actor Brian J. Smith (Stargate: Universe, Sense8, Broadway).  Last week, it was director Mairzee Almas (Dark Matter, The 100, iZombie).  The other day, it was Stargate’s very own goa’uld System Lord Camulus, Steve Bacic (Stargate: SG-1, Big Love, Chris Judge’s occasional poker nights).  We followed up, yesterday, with lunch that touched on film & television production, philosophy, neurochemistry, and a hot chocolate called a Siciliana comprised of dark chocolate, orange syrup and cayenne to which I added a shot of espresso.

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Anyway, it was the first time I really got a chance to sit down and talk to Steve and, I have to say, I’m now even more of a fan.  Smart, talented, and, above all, just a genuinely good, grounded individual.

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I told him about the the blog and pitched him a possible Steve Bacic fan Q&A, and he’s all in.  So – if you have a question for the former System Lord (who continues to be crazy busy shooting everything from t.v. guest spots to films), post it in this blog’s comments section.  I’ll gather up your queries and send them his way this weekend!

Fire away!

January 24, 2018: Best Comic Book Covers of the Week!

Holy smokes!  What a terrific week for comic book covers!

Here are my favorites…

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Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle (cover art by Yukito Kishiro)

The contrast of innocence and incendiary is pretty powerful here.  The two young girls react to the destruction: bewilderment, sorrow, acceptance.

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The Amazing Spiderman #794 (cover art by Alex Ross)

I’m a big fan of Alex Ross’s painted covers.

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Batgirl #19 (cover art by Dan Mora)

Best of friends make the worst of enemies, while the worst of enemies can make for the unlikeliest of allies.  I love the dynamic and this cover intrigues me.

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Dishonored: Peeress and the Price vol. 1 (cover art by Andrea Olimpieri)

I’m a big fan of writer Michael Moreci, and the cover to his latest comic book venture has more than captured my interest.  What lies beneath the mask?

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Ermek the Batyr #1 (cover art by Madibek Musabekov)

Melding fantasy and science fiction, Musabekov’s art hints at a unique narrative folklore-based narrative.

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Gasolina #5 (cover art by Mat Lopes)

Love among the ruins.  A tentative kiss backlit by a fireball of destruction.  Sweet.

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Provider #1 (cover art by Corey Davis)

Great concept and colors.

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Kid Lobotomy #4 (cover art by Tess Fowler)

Probably my favorite cover of the week.  Pure fun.  And the foodie in me really appreciates it.

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Luke Cage #169 (cover art by Rahzzah)

On the other hand, here’s this week’s most disturbing cover.  It’s mishaps like these that make me nervous to visit the dentist.

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Maestros #4 (cover art by Steve Skroce, Dave Stewart)

Awkward Family Photos have never looked so gorgeous.

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Marvel Two-In-One #2 (cover art by Jim Cheung)

A dazzling tribute to one of comicdom’s most iconic classic covers.

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Monstress #13 (cover art by Sana Takeda)

Hugo Award-winning Monstress boasts the brilliant writing of author Marjorie Liu and the equally brilliant art of Sana Takeda.  Gorgeous work.

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Nightmare World vol. 2: Leave the Light On (cover art by Kristen Perry)

The stuff of nightmares indeed.

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Nightwing: The New Order #6 (cover art by Trevor McCarthy)

A magnificent cover reminiscent of spirited stained glass design.

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Pheonix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey #4 (cover art by Lenil Francis Yu)

As a young reader who was deeply affected by the seminal X-Men #137, Phoenix Must Die, this cover really resonates.

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The Flash #39 (cover art by Carmine Di Giandomenico)

Everything old is new (and scarier) again.  Love the contemporary takes on those classic, occasionally corny, villains.

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Punisher vol. 3: King of the New York Streets (cover art by Declan Shalvey)

An atmospheric masterpiece.

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The Wildstorm #11 (cover art by Jon Davis-Hunt)

And, every so often, there’s will be those covers that just leave you saying: “Cool!”.

January 23, 2018: Happy National Pie Day!

Let’s celebrate with photos of pie’s sexier more delicious cousin, cake!

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These creative cosmic confections were crafted by Vancouverite Ksenia Penkina using a mirror glaze technique.  The results are downright mesmerizing…

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Sadly, having moved to Toronto, I am no longer able to sample these fabulous creations.  I’ll just have to settle for following her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksenia.penkina/

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On the other hand…

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Wow, this is pretty amazing.  People are still signing that Dark Matter petition.   Over 63k signatures and counting.

Recent new Dark Matter fans I have encountered: a best-selling SF author, a phenomenal screenwriter, a successful film & television producer, and a slew of others on twitter, reddit, and here on this blog.  And that was just this past week. Meanwhile, on the rare occasions when I visit a con, I’ll invariably run into a Stargate fan…

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Atlantis expedition member Anthony and yours truly at last fall’s Toronto fan expo.

Keep ’em coming!

January 22, 2018: Oops. Forgot to come up with a title for this blog entry.

“Please remember to take out the chicken at three o’ clock,”said Akemi as I prepared to head out for my lunch meeting with former Dark Matter director and stunt coordinator John Stead (aka The Stead Muffin).

“Leave me a reminder,”I suggested.

“Okay,”she said.

Two hours later, I returned home to this –

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And this –

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And these –

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 So, yes.  I remembered to take the chicken out.

I have a terrible memory.  Normally, this would be cause for concern but, to be honest, this isn’t a new development.  I’ve always had a terrible memory.  When I was a kid, my mother used to call me The Absentminded Professor.  Then as now, I think it’s less a memory retention issue than it is a not-paying-attention issue. When I’m writing – which is 99% of the time, even if I’m not sitting in front of a laptop – I’ve got something on my mind, so you can’t just start talking to me and expect my full, undivided attention.  For this reason, I’m not good with names, faces, dates, or places.  Also, pretty much anything that requires recall.

Fortunately, I do make it a point to take notes.

Unfortunately, I can’t read my own handwriting half the time.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/guillermodelpalacio/do-you-have-a-photographic-memory?utm_term=.pm66RaVmxa#.oh56vrqw2r

P.S. I got 9/10.  And, no I didn’t take notes.

January 21, 2018: On the home front!

Suji has this weird habit of walking into cameras…

Akemi in her adorable hat…

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Perks of being a showrunner.  Former Dark Matter AD Daily Riley gifts me an enormous bag of home made honeycomb.

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Photo shoot with mom from my last Montreal visit…

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