Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 328

November 19, 2016: Submit your questions for Roger Cross, Dark Matter’s SIX!

What better way to kick off the start of production on Dark Matter’s third season than a fan Q&A with actor Roger Cross.  Other cast members have already fielded your queries here on this blog:

Melissa O’Neil

Anthony Lemke

Alex Mallari Jr.

Zoie Palmer

Melanie Liburd

And now it’s time for Roger, one of Canada’s busiest actors, to submit to your grilling.

Got a burning question for him?  You have until Tuesday night to post it in the comments section of this blog.  After that, it’ll be in Roger’s hands…

Oooh, check it out.  Another little something from the Art Department.   Concept art from the fabulous Henry Fong for Episode 303.

Today, I went to the Toronto Christmas Market with Akemi and Jodelle.  We made Jodelle try popcorn shoots and roasted chestnut – both of which she hated, then made her pose beside this creepy red snowman – which she seemed to enjoy marginally more than the popcorn shoots and roasted chestnut.

We now resume our regularly scheduled scriptwriting session already in progress.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 18, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 1 of 91!

Our brilliant Production Designer, Ian Brock, gives today’s sets (3 in all!) a last look-through before heading off to oversee construction of several more sets!  Have to convince him to do a fan Q&A this season.

The “guest quarters” on the Volkov-Rusi ship.

Check out the attention to detail, the small touches…

The Art Department outdoes themselves with each successive episode.

A sneak peek at the still-in-progress “VR room”.

Really the best thing about getting the third season pick-up is having the opportunity to spend the next five months with this group.

Production Manager and Ethics Committee Chairman Brandon Tataryn works through the week AND runs a hugely popular bed & breakfast with his wife on weekends!  And he cooks for his guests, drawing from – and I didn’t know this until today – his culinary training.  Planning a trip to Ontario and looking to get away for a weekend or so?  Look no further!  I’ll get the details from Brandon this week!

Director of Photography Craig Wright, always upbeat and rarin’ to go.

Mind the airlock!

Access point – “the lab”.

Hey!  It’s on set dresser Mean Jean Brophey!

The lab’s lurid red lighting.  It’s like something out of The Shining!

The operating table.  This “lab” scene will deliver the most disquieting/creepiest/unsettling sequence on Dark Matter to date.  Avert your eyes!

The lurid red screens to match the equally lurid red lightning.

They say that, if  you look close enough and whistle a tune at the stroke of midnight, you can see the ghost of VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson onscreen.

And, of course, today’s wardrobe.  No more casual-wear for Joe.  I’m dressing up for production!

1 down!  90 to go!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, #DarkMatterSeason3, Dark Matter, Dark Matter season 3

November 17, 2016: Are you kidding me?!

Allow me to paint a picture if I may…

You’re asked to put on a show.  Say, a juggling demonstration.  You pick out four tennis balls  and practice until you’ve got it down pat.  Then, on the day, you discover that one of your tennis balls is missing.  But the show must go on and so you take the stage and start juggling – only to discover than another one of the tennis balls has been filled with sand.  You forge ahead with your routine and then someone tosses another object into the mix – say, a grapefruit.  You make the adjustment, incorporate it into the act, and keep juggling.  Then, someone throws in a shuttlecock.  A star fruit.  A hand mirror.  The ninth edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica vol 13, INF – KAN.  And finally, today…a flaming bowling ball.

Thank you, very much.

Fortunately, I came home to this which lifted my spirits.

After which I headed over to the recording studio where Dark Matter Music Supervisor Ben Pinkerton presided over a very special session.

P.S. I made sure to bug him about releasing that long-awaited Dark Matter soundtrack.  He swears he’s working on it!

Also in the studio with us, Ben’s right-hand man Spencer – and two of our cast members.  Care to guess who?

Hint: It’s Anthony Lemke and Zoie Palmer.  And they were terrific!

My last casual day…

Tomorrow, it’s formal wear!  Day #1 of #91!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 16, 2016: Dark Matter Double Production Meeting!

Last night was the Dark Matter season 3 cast dinner and, as I predicted, we didn’t eat until after 9:00 pm.  And, yes, I did eat.  Again.  But only to be polite.  Since I’d already had supper, I limited myself to the corn soup appetizer, the lamb ribs, and a spoonful of Zoie Palmer’s chocolate-orange pudding dessert.

A great time was had by all – except our affable host, Prodigy Pictures President and Dark Matter Executive Producer Jay Firestone, who was home sick but still treated us to an excellent meal, a couple of bottles of red wine, and champagne.

This morning, we gathered in the Raza mess for the very first production meeting of the young season.  We blazed through both episodes in under two hours, well before our taco lunch.

Whelp, wildly successful production meeting aside, today was one of those wearisome days that makes you regret not having sold your house at the height of the market, cashed out, and retired to Yokohama.  Seemingly endless notes to be given, holes to be plugged, an unfathomable discourse on tax credits, another major rewrite looms and – AND I chipped my brand new pair of purple kicks…

Tomorrow: The cast read-thru!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 15, 2016: The Dark Matter Cast Dinner – Spanish Style!

Tonight is the Dark Matter season 3 cast dinner.  In preparation, I just had supper.  I realize that might seem a little counter-intuitive, but our restaurant reservations are for 8:00 p.m. which means that, by the time everyone arrives and settles in, the kitchen won’t be getting our orders until 8:30 p.m., which means that we won’t actually get our food until well after 9:00 p.m.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m a team player.  Except when it comes to meals.  Experience has taught me to always eat before dinner parties as well because more often than not, and I’m sorry, but most hosts and hostesses never have their shit together and keep me waiting long beyond my point of no return (A singular exception to this rule is former Stargate EP Robert Cooper who, when we he says dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., SERVES DINNER AT GODDAMN 6:30 p.m.!).  When I’m hungry, I’m not interesting in making idle chitchat over aperitifs or nibbling on appetizers while I wait for lagging guests or cooks.  Let me put it this way – if you’re serving the main course during the NCIS closing credit crawl, you done fucked up.  What is this?  Spain?  Are we now going to start eating lunch between 2 and 4 p.m.?

Well, look who’s back in town.

Director Ron Murphy and Stunt Coordinator John Stead practice their choreographed routine for the dance-off.

Guess who’s room?

“The Crate” – Episode 301.  Watch for it!

Director Ron Murphy going over his line before opening night.

A storm of swords.

Props Master Victoria Klein and Stunt Coordinator John Stead.

Director Ron Murphy casually bearing gifts.

The Nikka Coffey Whisky was a huge hit at the latest Dark Matter Whiske/y Club assembly.  Thanks again!

Today’s ensemble…shark socks!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 14, 2016: Building those early sets – Dark Matter!

In season 1, our big builds were The Raza (bridge, infirmary, mess/training room, quarters, corridors) and The Marauder.  In season 2, it was the Hyperion-8 Galactic Prison (gen pop, warden’s office, tech room, interrogation room, laundry room, recycling room and incinerator, corridors).  In season 3 – well, here’s a peek at some of the concept work underway for Dark Matter’s third season…

Structural reconfiguration of the former Hyperion-8 cells into facility corridor, Episode 302.

Facility door – Episode 302.

Facility corridor details – Episode 302.

Facility door control panel – Episode 302.

T Junction, Facility – Episode 302.

Oh, yeah.  Forgot today’s ensemble.  Note the toucan socks.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 13, 2016: Dog Days of November!

“Weird.  That woman’s treating her kid like a dog.”

My reaction to witnessing a mother rocking, hugging and showering her child with kisses.

Bubba models his new Christmas sweater.

Lulu, all smiles.

Bubba doing his best frog imitation.

Lulu, reminding us it’s dinner time.

An introspective Bubba.

Bubs and mom hit the Christmas market.

So, what’s on tap this weekend?  Well.

Monday: Camera Prep, Tech Scout, Storyboard Review, Camera Equipment Meeting, Wig Meeting (!), and dinner with Post Supervisor Rachel Sutherland.

Tuesday: Tone Meeting, Special Equipment Meeting, Safety Committee Meeting, Cast Dinner.

Wednesday: Stunt Rehearsal, Production Meeting.

Thursday: Stunt Rehearsal, Music Recording (!).

Friday: FIRST DAY OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY!

November 12, 2016: Celebrating 10 years of blogging with some blog friends!

Over the course of these 10 years of daily blogging, I’ve gotten to know quite a few of you, mostly here on this blog but, some of you, in person.  There’s Gary (aka gforce) who has dropped by Vancouver on his innumerable nature hikes, Jeff W. who has kindly helped transport my dogs on their annual cross-country flight, and Jeff’s wife Barb who took Akemi for a memorable trip to the aquarium the last time she was in town.  This weekend, all three were in Toronto to help mark this blog’s 10th anniversary!

They – in concert with other blog regulars – presented me with a commemorative plaque, a bottle of super smooth Nikka Coffey whisky, and THIS spectacular model of The Raza that lights up a half dozen ways (built by Jeff) –

Sub-light!

Firing engines!

Shields!

And they didn’t leave out Akemi or Bubba and Lulu.  Check out the Christmas-themed toys and outfits!

A great lunch and interesting dessert (still not sold on that rosemary ice cream) with great people.

Thanks to Jeff, Barb, Gary – and all the rest of this extended blog family!

Nav calculations complete.  Jumping to FTL…

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 11, 2016: More Season 3 Dark Matter Concept Art!

Concept art for “the clock” which, frankly, isn’t a clock but kinda looks like one.  To be featured in Episode 304.

The other day, Production Manager Brandon Tataryn asked me when I expected to have episode titles.  I told him “When the fans decide.”  Aint democracy wonderful?

More concept awesomeness from the desk of artist Henry Fong.

Yeah, these assorted limbs are going to come in handy.  Leggy and footy.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Well, the first day of principal photography on Dark Matter’s third season is less than a week which means I’m going to have to start dressing up soon.  But until then, it’s casual wear for prep…

Going to see if I can get those phone booths in blue.

Date night tonight as Akemi and I attend the screening of Tsukiji Wonderland, a documentary Tokyo’s famed 80-year old fish market, the world’s largest.  It’ll be like going on vacation – for a couple of hours!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, #ootd, Dark Matter

November 10, 2016: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, try, try again!

In season 1, we had 12 of 13 scripts written by the time we went to camera.

In season 2, we had 9 of 13 scripts written by the time we went to camera.

As we head into season 3, it looks like we’ll probably have 8 of 13 scripts written by the time we go to camera.  And that’s being optimistic.  A couple of reasons for this:

1. SCHEDULE: We’re starting production earlier.  In season 1, we started in early January.  In season 2, we started in early December.  This season, we’re looking at a mid-November start.

2. THE ROOM: In our first year, Paul and I were joined by Martin Gero.  We broke all 13 episodes over the course of two and a half weeks!  In our second year, we managed to break 9 scripts.  This year, we succeeded in breaking all of 7 (ish) scripts – some more detailed than others.

3. REWRITES: Holy crap!  THIS is the biggest challenge of all.  Unlike other season where rewrites would mostly involve tweaks to the first drafts, these season 3 rewrites haven’t been brutal, big, and time-consuming.  5 out of our first 7 scripts have seen full passes.

We’re still in great shape; still ahead of the game.  I’ve heard horror stories of productions that have prepped off outlines and, in one case, a writer’s pitch (!). Thankfully, that’s a situation we’ll never face (I promise).  Still, it can be both frustrating and exhausting fielding 11th hour curveballs when you’re in meetings, prepping, revising, finishing off first drafts and, oh yeah, perhaps most importantly, have a fairly well thought-out narrative plan in place that you spent the better part of three months putting together.

Ah, show business.

Hey, wanna see something really cool?

Concept art by Henry Fong.