Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 319

February 14, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 53 of 91!

Let’s celebrate Valentine’s Day (except in Pakistan where it’s apparently been outlawed) with a brand new episode title!  Here are the results of yesterday’s fan poll:

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Wow.  This one wasn’t even close.  I honestly thought “This Galaxy’s Most Notorious” would have put in a better showing, but what do I know?  That’s why I just write and produce the episodes and leave the naming to those more qualified.

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The “helmet” for Episode 307 is a glorious thing.  Gorgeous workmanship by On Set Key Props Lisa Amaral Wright.

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A few more pods for your consideration c/o Set Designer Karl Crosby.

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If and when I get that new military SF series off the ground, I’ve already reserved Karl’s seat on the hero destroyer.

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A costume design sketch from, appropriately enough, Costume Designer Noreen Landry.

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Director (and Dark Matter Stunt Coordinator) John Stead calling the shots.

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And ordering our the new crew (?!).

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Incoming transmission.  But who’s calling?  Commander Nieman, I presume?  (Playback still c/o 1st Assistant Art Director Sumeet Vats).

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Our apartment is now a veterinary clinic.  Poor Lulu, laid up by a paw injury enjoys some R&R.

This is poor Bubba and his hacking old man’s cough.  Based on the x-rays, the early prognosis isn’t good, but we’ll learn more after tomorrow’s ultrasound.

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Despite this, he seems happy during the day and his appetite is good.  This afternoon, he hit the park with doggy uber (aka Akemi).

Tonight, Akemi and I celebrate Valentine’s Day by taking Bubba for some blood tests, eating leftover pork, and watching Gail Harvey’s director’s cut of Episode 306!  Pretty romantic.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

February 13, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 53 of 91!

The polls are open once again.  Cast your vote for your preferred Episode 303 title:

Take Our Poll

Then enjoy these gorgeous pod designs, c/o phenomenal Set Designer Karl Crosby…

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Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

February 12, 2017: Prepare for another episode title vote!

Hey!  Who’s in the mood to select a new episode title?  If you’re interested, I’ve got three terrific contenders for Episode 303.  The poll will be posted tomorrow after which you’ll have 24 hours to cast your vote and help make Dark Matter history!

This afternoon, I amassed and relayed all of the questions posted for Jodelle Ferland’s fan Q&A – and there were A LOT of them.  So many, in fact, that if Jodelle were to answer all of them, we probably wouldn’t receive a response until summer of 2018.

Also today, I made two separate batches of hot sauce: one habanero-based, the other cascabel-based.  Took me about three hours, but the results were well worth the effort.  By the time I was done, I was eating them by the spoonful – much to Akemi’s horror.

Hey, speaking of horror, here is the preliminary list of the horror movies I intend to power through during next week’s hiatus…

The Autopsy of Jane Doe

Baskin

The Boy

Don’t Breathe

Emelie

The Evolution

The Eyes of My Other

Hush

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House

The Invisible Guest

The Invitation

The Neon Demon

Ouija: Origin of Evil

Raw

Southbound

They Look Like People

Under the Shadow

The Wailing

We Are the Flesh

The Witch

What am I missing?

February 11, 2017: My dogs are getting old :(

It feels like not all that long ago I had four dogs.  Now to most, four dogs would seems like at least a couple dogs too many but for me at the time, it was the ideal number.  First there was Jelly – alpha, bossy, troublemaking Jelly – who used to run the corridors of the Stargate production offices back in the day and once ate actor Michael Shanks’ tuna fish sandwich when he left it unattended in her presence.  Then came Maximus – heavyset, laid-back, affable Max – who we got as a companion for Jelly.  You’d be hard pressed to find a more big-hearted dog, as great with cats as he was with kids.  After him, came Bubba – jumpy, anxiety-ridden Bubba – who we originally got as a present for my ex’s brother but I ended up keeping (and getting her brother a toaster oven instead).  And then came Lulu – headstrong, relentless, clever Lulu – who rounded out the pack and, as the only frenchie among the pugs, demonstrated superior intellect in her ability to access hitherto inaccessible hiding spots for treats.

I remember lying in bed one night, with the four of them nestled in their preferred spots – Jelly on the pillow by my head, Maximus at my feet, Bubba near my legs, and Lulu close to my side – and thinking “Someday, I’m going to think back to this moment and remember how perfect it was.”  And I was right.  I do.  Often.

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Jelly, the love of my life, passed away two years ago at 16 years (and four months).  My longest relationship!

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Maximus passed years earlier at the far-too young age of 12.

Jelly and Max used to be oldsters while I’d refer to Bubba and Lulu as the youngsters but, all too suddenly, those roles have been reversed.  

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Lulu, who used to play for hours on end, has trouble walking now as the spinal surgery she underwent late last year has proven unsuccessful in stemming the advance of the neurological issues that are robbing her of her mobility.  It’s sad to watch her, clearly frustrated, as she struggles to walk a single block.

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And Bubba, once seemingly indestructible and impervious to the onslaught of time, appears to have aged dramatically over the course of a single year.  He spends most of his days napping and has recently developed a hacking “old man’s” cough that precipitated the recent veterinary visit, concerns, and need for an ultrasound.

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Suji, the latest addition to the family, is spry and spirited, surprisingly youthful at a relatively young 11.  She has her own mobility issues, the result of hip dysplasia, but has shown some impressive improvement over the few months she’s been with us, going from dragging her back legs around to walking with the help of a rear support sling to managing one, occasionally two whole blocks unassisted.

The hardest thing about getting a dog isn’t the housebreaking or the training; not the feeding or the walking or the daily care.

The hardest part about getting a dog is having to say goodbye.

Today’s entry is dedicated to long-time blog reader Narelle from Aus.  In remembrance of Ralph and Jack.

Tagged: Dogs

February 10, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 51 of 91!

Here’s a sneak peek at the temp VFX for that “creeping advance”.  VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson feels it needs a color adjustment to give it less of an ocean blue feel.

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Set Designer Karl Crosby’s latest creation is this awesome set piece for the discerning off-world miner.  Pictured above is the color version of the close-to-final form.

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Check out the level of detail.  Preliminary option 3.

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Ready to roll design.

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A peek behind the curtain.  A Work In Progress pic from the arm manufacturer.

While back on the home front…

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Suji eyes her snack.

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Bubba and Lulu ready to dig in.

Well, Bubba has an appointment next Friday for an ultrasound and possible CT scan.  What was supposed to be a simple check-up last night turned into a five hour ordeal that saw us close out the night at the local Veterinary Emergency center.  Both sets of x-rays taken yesterday show shadows in his lungs and the doctors are concerned, especially considering the recent surgery to remove two suspicious lumps near the base of his ear.  Sigh.  Our poor old man.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

February 9, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 50 of 91!

Today…

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: On set for Episode 307.

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Location Scout for Episode 309

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Notes session

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Dealing with VISA who put a block on my credit card after Akemi tried to purchase something from an online shop in Japan.

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Cast read-thru for Episode 308.

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Departmental approvals for Episodes 308-310.

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Production meeting for Episode 308

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Tone meeting for Episode 308.

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Drive home.

5:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.: Have a routine appointment for Bubba turn into an extended visit with our local vet and a trip to the Animal Emergency Hospital that included: 2 physicals, 2 sets of x-rays, various prognoses ranging from congestive heart failure to not sure, antibiotics, a referral to see a specialist.

11:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.: Write blog entry

Pushed to tomorrow’s schedule because there was no time today: Dinner.

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February 9, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 51 of 91!

Today…

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: On set for Episode 307.

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Location Scout for Episode 309

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Notes session

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Dealing with VISA who put a block on my credit card after Akemi tried to purchase something from an online shop in Japan.

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Cast read-thru for Episode 308.

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Departmental approvals for Episodes 308-310.

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Production meeting for Episode 308

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Tone meeting for Episode 308.

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Drive home.

5:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.: Have a routine appointment for Bubba turn into an extended visit with our local vet and a trip to the Animal Emergency Hospital that included: 2 physicals, 2 sets of x-rays, various prognoses ranging from congestive heart failure to not sure, antibiotics, a referral to see a specialist.

11:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.: Write blog entry

Pushed to tomorrow’s schedule because there was no time today: Dinner.

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February 8, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 49 of 91!

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Give up the questions and nobody gets hurt!

As I mentioned in yesterday’s entry – in a bid to jam even more into Jodelle Ferland’s already jam-packed schedule, I’ve arranged for her to do a little fan Q&A on this blog.  So, if you have a question for Dark Matter’s FIVE, please post them in the comments section by Saturday…otherwise you’ll miss this great opportunity and have to wait until the next show I cast her in.

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Today, we welcomed director Craig David Wallace (Slasher, Todd and the Book of Pure Evil) to the Dark Matter whisky club.  And, while he was here, also asked him to direct Episode 310.  Talk about great timing!

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The commendation presented to Lieutenant Kal Varrick as MVP of the Galactic Authority Softball Tournament.  Designed by 1st Assistant Art Director/Graphics Roxanne Borris.

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Is this the end of The Raza?  Probably.  Plans are to scuttle the standing sets and move the production to Hawaii for a tropical planet look.  (photo c/o Ivon Bartok)

A first look at the new Ishida holo-tablet WIP.  What do you think?  Akemi loves it, but I think she’s biased.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

February 7, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 48 of 91!

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Ever wondered what Jodelle Ferland eats for breakfast?  What comic books she’s reading?  What is her favorite episode of Dark Matter?  Well, wonder no more because now YOU have a chance to ask her!

Starting today, the comments section of this blog is the place to post your burning questions for Dark Matter’s FIVE.  You have until this weekend before I bundle them up and send them to The Raza via a compressed subspace data burst.  So what are you waiting for???

Meanwhile, on the production front…

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The Galactic Authority seal of honor.  A Roxanne Borris-design.

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Director Ron Murphy and Co-Executive Producer Robbie David scheme.

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On set with the Android, Zoie Palmer. [image error]I’m…not sure.

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Director Paul Day sets up his shot with an assist from Director of Photography Craig Wright.

Bookending this blog entry with adorableness…

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Winter-ready Suji.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

February 6, 2017: Dark Matter season 3 – Day 47 of 91!

Guys, you’ve got to help me.  I think I may have sort of, uh, inadvertently torn a hole in the fabric of spacetime.  It was an accident! Honest.  Yesterday, I took a quick trip to the future in order to pre-screen the Superbowl and then, after watching the Falcons demolish the Patriots, returned home.  Or so I thought. Instead, I seem to have crossed over into some bizarro reality where Stargate: SG-1 didn’t produce its Apple iTunes exclusive 11th season, Stargate: Atlantis didn’t get its sixth and final season, Stargate: Universe was cancelled after two years instead of running its full five, and the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl (although, as this AU’s Robert Cooper pointed out: “At least Atlanta won best comedy at the Golden Globes”).  In other words, I’ve somehow ended up in some dark alternate timeline.

Until I can figure out a way to return to my proper reality, I’m just going to have to console myself by picking up a couple of McDLT’s and cracking open a nice cold New Coke while watching Tom Selleck in his classic role as Indiana Jones on my WebTV.  Now if I could only find the keys to my Fiero…

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The people have spoken!  Over one thousand votes were cast and we have a winning episode title:

“Episode 28: It Doesn’t Have To Be Like This”

Let’s celebrate with a sneak peek at the work of concept artist Henry Fong:

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Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter