Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 329

December 19, 2016: It can’t get any better than this!

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I started my writing career in animation,  After several years of freelancing, I landed a full time job as the Manager of Animation Development at a local studio in Montreal.  My 9 to 5 duties covered all aspects of the internal creative and, over the course of my time there, I developed such shows as Animal Crackers, Mona the Vampire, Paddington Bear, and Caillou.  I also continued my freelance scriptwriting in my off-hours AND story-edited several (of the aforementioned) shows.  I was happy and, at the time, thought “It can’t get any better than this.”

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I eventually left the security of my 9 to 5 job for the feast or famine world of full time freelancing.  I continued to write scripts and story-edit, shifting focus from that local studio to some of the bigger animation guns, eventually lending my services to the CBS Saturday morning line-up.  I made my own hours, worked at my own pace and, more importantly, made better money.  “Okay, now,”I thought, “it can’t get any better than this.”

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I eventually transitioned from animation to live action, partnering with my long-time friend, Paul Mullie, and landing a staff position on a teen sitcom called Student Bodies.  We shot in an abandoned school and wrote in our enormous office,  a carpeted former classroom.  One day, the show’s creators asked us if we needed anything.  I jokingly suggested an air hockey table.  Well, the following week, an air hockey table was written into an episode and, once said episode was shot, that air hockey table found a permanent home in our office.  It was a pretty sweet gig and, at time time, I was pretty damn sure “It can’t get any better than this.”

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And then, we ended up on Stargate and spent 12 incredible years writing and producing one of the  most successful franchises in scifi television history.  Paul and I worked our way up from co-producers to showrunners and had a hell of a lot of fun along the way.  Even though the shows had their challenges, we enjoyed going to work every day and enjoyed the company of the people we worked with.   Judging from everything we’d heard about the many other productions out there, we knew we were very lucky and I had no doubt then that my time on Stargate would be next to impossible to top.  “It can’t get any better than this,”I assumed for presumably the last time.

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Then, two years later, Dark Matter comes along.  Three season in, it reminds me a lot of my time on Stargate – fun, fulfilling, and very rewarding with the added bonus that it happens to be MY show.  Surely, it can’t get any better than this.

But who knows?

December 18, 2016: Suji and Secrets!

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In a matter of days, we’ll be in Montreal and my mother’s house will come alive with the pitter patter of little paws – roughly thirty-two in all not counting the feline variety.  In preparation, we’re shopping, gift-wrapping, packing, and bathing…

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Suji deserved the spa treatment after a thoroughly exhausting afternoon at Trinity Bellwoods Park for the monthly pug grumble.  Last month, the turnout was good with approximately thirty pugs showing.  Today’s turnout was…er…significantly less so.  The bone chilling weather may have had something to do with it.

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Despite being bundled up, Suji has some second thoughts about this Canadian winter.  Pictured above, this is her “Get me back to that warm barn in Portland!” face.

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Double-bundled for her enjoyment – and yours!

So, tomorrow, we’ll load up the car with gifts, windshield washer fluid, and that outline for my next script.  The plan is to celebrate Christmas with the family AND get two acts into my new script.  Secrets will be revealed.  And some characters are going to wish they hadn’t been.

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The man with all the secrets.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, pug, pugs

December 17, 2016: Suji enters rehab!

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Yes, years of hard living have taken their toll.    So, today, Suji entered rehab…

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First, a little test of those gimpy hindquarters.  Yes, they’re weak and she suffers from hip dysplasia, but she can really motor when she gets up a full head of steam.

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Into the tank for her hydrotherapy session.  The handle atop her little red life vest gave her the appearance of pug luggage.

Off to a slow start but, by the end of the session, she was positively motoring.

Then, it was time for her laser therapy.

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Doggles?  Check!

We concluded things with her daily carpet run.

Tagged: pug, pugs, senior pug, senior pugs

December 16, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 21 of 91!

And that’s a wrap on Dark Matter 2016!  We capped off production with a tri-episode three director extravaganza.

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Steve DiMarco kicked things off with a pursuit through ethereal environs.  But who’s chasing who?  The answers will shock.  Then it was John Stead getting the last few scenes from our season 3 opener.  And, finally, Bruce McDonald completed the day – and Episode 302 – with a some big time trouble on the Marauder.

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The Cosmic Cowboy

While all this was happening on set, I was back at the office, taking in the Episode 303 production meeting (full steam ahead!), a notes session (hmmmmmm), a budget update meeting (so far, so good), and then a sit-down with Episode 303 (former “I’ve Seen The Other Side Of You”) director Steve DiMarco.  Over the course of most of the afternoon – and several rounds of Nikka Coffey whisky – we discussed his upcoming episode, the film and television industry, memorable experiences in the trenches, and surprisingly similar musical affinities for the works of Ministry and The Prodigy.

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Love the guy.

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Hey, it’s our production Christmas gift courtesy of Jay Firestone and Prodigy Pictures: a warm hat for those cold location shooting days, some hot chocolate from SOMA, and a festive card depicting The Raza subbing in for Santa’s sleigh.

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Today, I wore my new tie compliments of Anita in wardrobe who actually took the time to make it!

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Line Producer Norman Denver shows off his team colors – Everton!  It’s funny.  I thought for sure the sorting hat would have put him in Hufflepuff.

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The Dark Matter whiskey/y club convenes for its final 2016 gathering.  Kanpai!

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Okay, I’ve got two days to finish my Christmas shopping, run all of my errands, and prep for the drive to Montreal.  What podcasts should I download for the 4-5 hour drive?  Suggestions?

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

December 15, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 20 of 91!

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“Motorists should consider postponing non-essential travel…”  Is going home considered non-essential?

Should be interesting.  We have a little over an hour before wrap and waze is already telling me it’s going to take me a while to get home.  A while that’s going to get even whilier as the snowstorm continues to rage.  Melissa is already suggesting we all camp out in the cafeteria for the night.  Why chance it?

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A little something for Episode 303 from the Art Department.

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Craig, our Head Carpenter, keeping busy.  Although, granted, he doesn’t look that busy right at this moment.

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Hey, look, it’s The General (played by Andrew Jackson).  Haven’t seen him since season 1.  Wonder what he’s up to?

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Head Cutter Anita O’Tooler made me this awesome tie.  I’m wearing it tomorrow!  Prepare to be amazed.

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My mom asks: “What does Akemi do all day?”.  Well, in Toronto in the winter, she spends most of it trying to get the dogs dressed up for their walks.  That’s socks, boots, rubbers, jackets, hats, collars, and leashes X 3!  It’s a full-time job.

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Suji (Sister Ursula) four layers deep.

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Bubba and Lulu feeling the Christmas spirit.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

December 14, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 19 of 91!

I was awakened at 5 a.m. this morning by what sounded like Akemi vacuuming downstairs.

That’s because Akemi WAS vacuuming downstairs.  At 5 a.m. this morning!

I’m not sure how they do things in Japan, but here in Canada…

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Toronto’s in the deep freeze – and it’s just going to get colder.  Today, our tech survey took us to Hamilton where, incredibly, it’s actually colder INSIDE our prospective location than it is outside.  At one point, I honestly wondered if someone had accidentally left the air conditioner on full blast.

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The archway into the Traugott garrison.

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Building the metal doors.

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The secret ingredient is…styrofoam?

Meanwhile, on set…

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This does NOT bode well for our guest star.

“I get so excited for blood.” – Lynda McCormack, Key Makeup (December 14, 2016)

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The mile deep core shaft.  Just toss your coins in and make a wish.

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Playback – generic and hero!

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Official Ishida issue warning stickers.

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Kudos to Production Designer Ian Brock and the art department for building what is probably our most SF set to date.

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Corridor column.  As always, it’s all in the details.

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That new 3D printer sure has come in handy.

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Check out the new shirt Akemi picked up for Suji.  Our new (old) gal has turned into quite the bossy boots, barking up a storm whenever a stranger comes through the door, and bullying poor Bubba.  She’ll waddle over to where he’s sleeping and bark until he wakes up and changes his sleeping spot, then waddle over and repeat the process, forcing him to play musical dog beds.  She also does NOT like it when Akemi has Bubba on her lap, barking in outrage while our deaf old boy snoozes on, unaware.

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Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

December 13, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 18 of 91!

Two units going today.  While Co-Executive Producer Ivon Bartok was overseeing the action over at the Ishida Research Facility, I was catching a glimpse of the future over on The Raza…

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The Ishida Research Facility central lab.  Let’s go take a look inside…

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The heart of the station.

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Karl’s robot arm in action.

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Test subjects for the first experimental round.

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Director Bruce McDonald is out of control!

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The janitorial staff works overtime at the Ishida Research Facility.

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Galactic News Network anchor Ross Hull delivers the news of the day.

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And, on the lighter side of the news, it’s all-out intergalactic corporate war!

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I informed Ross that after he was done, I’d take a shot – and then decide later which version I preferred.

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GNN projects General Zod will lose the general election.

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Robbie, Ross, and yours truly.  A Student Bodies reunion!  Minus Robbie.

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Anita gets to work on my new ties!!!

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Concept artist Henry Fong offers up some early versions of that Ferrous Corp shipyard.

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Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

December 12, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 17 of 91!

Boy, I’m not one to get all emotional, but Facebook 2016’s Year in Review video really took me back –

To last month when I uploaded most of those photos.

Ah, I remember that cast dinner like it was November.  And that random photo of Roger Cross I uploaded to accompany his Q&A less than a week ago really stirs those distant memories.  And that shot I took seven days ago of actress Torri Higginson (Dark Matter’s Commander Truffault) giving the camera both barrels. Time flies like an arrow, shot into a target from two feet away…

Remembrances of things past drift by as elusive and fleeting as a child’s cigar smoke, instances from a time long ago… November 26th – Akemi and Jodelle sitting at the chocolate shop, November 28th – Director Bruce McDonald sitting in a prep meeting for the episode he’s presently shooting, November 15th (!) – Jodelle in my office!  It’s like seeing your entire life flash before your eyes, provided you’re a month old infant.

But I can’t get hung on the past.  After all, I’ve got a show to make!

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Testing, testing, one, two, three!  Drew Williams and Rachelle Audet with the early morning sound check.

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It’s the new-look airlock for the Ishida research station.

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Right through these doors, adventure awaits!

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At this point, do you even need to be told?

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Script Supervisor Brad Wetherly follows up Friday’s suit and tie look with Monday’s Mickey Mouse Club look.

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It is COLD in our second stage.  How cold?  So cold that street urchins come in off the streets to warm themselves by our tiny heaters.

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Remember the mag-lev concept?

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Well here it is in all of its beatdown glory.  Wait until you see it in action!

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Thanks to everyone who inquired about Suji.  As we suspected, she was suffering from a bladder infection but is now on antibiotics and has improved considerably.

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Bath time!  Whereas Bubba and Lulu do the tub, Suji is more of a kitchen sink bather.

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Her after-bath outfit.  Toasty warm.

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On Sunday, she and Bubba went out for a stroll – first to the park, then by the pet shop for some browsing.

Ironically, our sole purchase was for Lulu.  New boots!  Lookit her go!

Graceful, no?

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When Suji’s tired, she’ll simply burrow under a blanket and go to sleep.  Lights out!

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Poor Bubba.  Now there’s one more girl in the house to boss him around.

This is your last chance to get your questions in for Dark Matter director Ron Murphy!  Any questions submitted after midnight tonight will be subject to heavy fines and penalties.

Tagged: facebook 2016 Year in Review, pug, pugs, senior pug

December 11, 2016: Naming the Android!

The other day, I received the following text from actress Zoie Palmer:

And she was right.  It WAS like sharing with her the single greatest thing about bringing a child into this world: coming up with a name for it.  Except that instead of having 9 months to do it, we have 9 episodes, and instead of some kid, it’s our Android we’re naming.

I say OUR because the development of Dark Matter’s Android has truly been a collaborative process with the actress playing her.  I’ll pitch Zoie our plans for the character and she’ll also throw ideas my way – suggestions, requests, flashes of inspiration – occasionally when I see her at work but mostly via the texts she sends my way while I’m in the office, or out and about, or lying in bed about to drift off into sweet, sweet dreamland.  And, every so often, those messages have a way of, uh, veering off topic.  Some of my recent favorites include:

And –

AND –

Note: Those blanks in the final text were, of course, a few of the names we’re considering for our lovable Android. And we’ll be keeping them under wraps…for now.

However, if you’re curious, some of the names that didn’t make the final cut and are no longer under consideration include:

ALICE

SAMANTHA

DESDEMONA

CLARA

MARNIE

ELLIE

CALL

DEE

EVANS

ALOYSIA

DESTINY

CHACHACHA

LOYLOY (Like the panda!)

ZOIE

But fear not.  We’ve got a half dozen solid candidates in contention.

Hey, the other day, someone on reddit mentioned they were thinking of getting a Dark Matter-inspired tattoo and floated the possibility of going with the Android’s barcode.  I provide it for you here, via the marvellous Roxanne Borris, who designed it for the show, in the event you’re considering following suit.

She also created one for Wendy the android from Episode 107:

And a couple of the androids in Episode 204 (“We Were Family”) including one for the mysterious Victor:

So, what’s in store for our Android in season 3?  Well, besides a few shocking revelations, undercover ops, ass-kicking sequences, inspired fashion choices,  and flashes of her unique sense of humor…you’ll have to wait and see.

Our Android and Ryo Ishida in happier times.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Zoie Palmer

December 10, 2016: Contest winner!

Early in November, I held a little contest on this blog, asking fans to directly identify two props featured in Dark Matter’s second season.  Then, we rolled into production and I forgot to announce the winner.  And so, better late than never, the winner of the cast-signed script who correctly identified the props – and the episodes in which they appeared is…

ceresis64!

Prop 1 – An emergency beacon that Chief Inspector Kierkan shows Four when he’s talking to him, when trapped under the rubble in Ep 205 We Voted Not To Space You.

Prop 2 – one of Truffault’s soldiers uses it to open the door when they board the Raza in Ep208 Stuff To Steal, People To Kill.

Congrats to ceresis64!  Drop me an email at moorsyum@yahoo.com with your mailing address, and I’ll send the script your way.

Director Ron Murphy is armed and ready for you questions.  You have until Monday night to post them in this blog’s comments section!

Hey, check out this concept vehicle, just in time for my Christmas road trip to Montreal!  Just got to fuel up, get the snow tires, and arm the mounted laser gun and I’m road ready!

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Suji has to work on that bark.

I leave you with…dog pictures…

P.S. Suji now has her own instagram account here: NewOldPugSujiko

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, pugs, senior pug