Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 343
June 22, 2016
June 22, 2016: Vancouver, wha- happened?
Seriously. I feel as though I’ve returned to a shoddy facsimile of the Vancouver I knew and loved. Okay, I suppose I can forgive the bad weather (despite being told how wonderfully warm it was while we were suffering the deep chill in Toronto), the road closures and construction (VERY reminiscent of Toronto), the expanded bike lanes (often as large as the actual car lanes), even the increasingly complicated green initiatives (green, blue, AND grey bins plus yellow bag – we’re one step away from purple boxes for human remains), but I have to draw the line at the restaurants. When my old favorites start letting me down, that’s when I seriously have to reconsider my longterm plans. In the two weeks in which I’ve been back, my return trips to fondly remembered eateries have yielded results ranging from unmemorable to just plain bad.
Yesterday, Akemi and I discussed the bewildering downgrade in quality and wondered whether it was a matter of the Toronto food scene being better. We broke it down…
High End Dining = Toronto has the clear edge here. Vancouverites, for some reason, do not support high end.
Sushi = Vancouver sushi is far better in general, but Toronto boasts the best sushi restaurant by far in Yasu.
Pizza = Hands down Toronto. Between Buca and Piano Piano, they’ve got it covered.
Italian = Again, Toronto.
Chinese = Call this one a tie.
Korean = Vancouver gets the nod here. No Korean restaurant we visited in Toronto came close to Vancouver’s Sura.
Vietnamese = Tie.
Jewish deli = Toronto’s Schmaltz in a big, BIG way.
Tacos = I can’t believe I’d ever say this, but Toronto beats out Vancouver in this category.
Chocolate = It’s close, but Soma’s cocoa nib chocolate bar and award-winning orange blossom chocolates give it the edge.
Indian = Vancouver has Vij’s so Toronto is at a big disadvantage.
What’s a foodie to do? Besides spend half the year in each city?
Today’s Dark Matter season 2 sneak peek screen shot. Discuss.
Yep, it’s true. This Saturday at noon pacific time (3 pm eastern time, 6 pm in the UK, 2 am in Yangon!), I’ll be doing an AMA (Ask Me Anything) over on Reddit. Topics will range from Stargate to Dark Matter, Student Bodies to Caillou. If you’re free, and have a questions – or are just interested in checking out the answers – meet me here: https://www.reddit.com/r/television/
A little something for the Stargate fans…
June 21, 2016
June 21, 2016: 10 days to the Dark Matter season 2 premiere!
Check out our resident James Bond, actor Anthony Lemke, as he enjoys a rustic getaway from the formalities of the big city…
On the flip side of that laid-back coin – check out this interview I did with Tom Gardiner of ThreeIfBySpace in which I discuss road trip companions, casino partners and, oh yeah, Dark Matter’s second season.
Dark Matter Exclusive Interview
Today’s Dark Matter season 2 sneak peek screen shot. You asked for ship to ship battles, did you not?
Speaking of ships, here’s a little something from the Stargate archives:
The Loki ship (designed by James Robbins).
Don’t forget to enter for a chance to win a cast-signed script of the Dark Matter season 2 premiere episode which will include notes and insights on the episode from yours truly. It’s easy and fun! No, I lie. It’s actually not easy at all. It’s really, really hard. But fun!
A mere ten days to our premiere: Friday July 1st at 10 pm on Syfy!
Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter 
June 20, 2016
June 20, 2016: Dark Matter sneak peek! Trailers! Fan art!
Today’s Dark Matter season 2 sneak peek screen shot.
New promo alert – this time from the gang at Canada’s Space Channel. Includes several interesting new as-yet-unseen tidbits:
Dark Matter premieres July 1st on Space Channel and Syfy U.S. Elsewhere…
P.S. – We’re on Canadian Netflix now! You’ve got less than two weeks to catch up!
Or own it on Blu-ray or DVD via Funimation. Need convincing? Checkout their awesome season 1 trailer (that contains one tiny mistake. Although Paul and I spent over a decade on Stargate, we were not the creators):
Meanwhile, as our premiere draws ever-closer, the Dark Matter fan art I’m seeing online grows increasingly more awesome…
Via Maryanne!
Via Cheri:p!
Via DarkMatterOfOpinion!
Via PinkMoonNYC!
Via Storywisher!
Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter
June 19, 2016
June 19, 2016: Top 10 Worst Spiderman Villains!
This list is a matter of opinion. Were I to put together a rundown of the Top 10 Best Spiderman Villains, Mysterio would make it. Mysterio. This guy –
with the fishbowl helmet.
I mean, my childhood memories of Electro and the Green Goblin subconsciously direct me to forgive a lot. But then, there are those villains that even the fondest of childhood memories cannot make right. These are My Top 10 Worst Spiderman Villains…
10. Tarantula
Despite the fact that he was given an update, he’ll always be the guy with the pointy poisoned boots to me.
9. Grizzly
Don’t get me wrong. I have all sorts of respect for the power of the grizzly bear. Less so for a guy who runs around New York dressed like one.
8. Hammerhead
This flat top gangster could either shoot you or hit you with his really hard head. A true dual threat!
7. The White Rabbit
Armed with Alice in Wonderland-inspired weaponry and a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature, former socialite Lewis Dodson IS The White Rabbit.
6. Kraven the Hunter
Back when I worked on Stargate, my office was decorated with Marvel and DC villains. One day, Executive Producer Martin Gero walked into my office, pointed to the Kraven the Hunter and asked: “Why do you have a statue of Freddie Mercury on your shelf?”. ’nuff said.
5. The Vulture
Poor decrepit Adrian Tomes with his skintight green spandex outfit and impossibly big wings. The very definition of awkward.
4. Hypno Hustler
He can hypnotize people with his guitar. And, for an encore, his boots emit a knockout gas.
3. Rhino
Combine the very best worst aspects of Hammerhead and Grizzly and you get this guy.
2. Kangaroo
He can jump really high. And box. Of course he can.
1. Big Wheel
I mean, just look at the picture.
June 18, 2016
June 18, 2016: Melissa O’Neil, Dark Matter’s TWO, Answers YOUR Questions!
THIS is the blog entry you’ve all been waiting for. Melissa O’Neil, Dark Matter’s TWO, answers YOUR questions. And there are A LOT of them so let’s not waste anytime and get to it.
But first, let me just say this about the lovely Melissa. I remember watching her very first audition for the role of the kick-ass commander of The Raza and knowing, immediately, that SHE was the one. And having Executive Producer Vanessa Piazza walk into my office to inform me that she thought SHE was the one. And then receiving a call from my longtime writing/producing partner Paul Mullie telling me that he thought SHE was the one. And Melissa proved us right from day one in consistently spectacular fashion.
QUESTIONS ABOUT DARK MATTER AND THE CAST
Carlytto: “Would you eliminate One to take his number spot?”
Two might. I wouldn’t dream of it.
Kabra: “Do you have to keep Joe in line you do with the rest of the Raza Crew?”
It’s really the other way around. I can barely colour within the lines!
Craig M: “If there was one character/actor in S2 you’d like to see TWO hang out with/have more scenes with, who would it be?”
It’s hard to choose because I love the two hander scenes that TWO has on the ship.
After S1, I would have said FOUR, because we don’t get to see the two of them working together all that much; after S2, it’s still hard to choose, but I’ll go with Nyx. It’s really fun having another woman on the ship.
Thogar: “What’s your favourite part of working on Dark Matter?”
I enjoy being exposed to so many creative people in all of their varied disciplines in one environment. It’s the only job I’ve had where everyone populates the same space for extended periods of time. If I’m being mindful, Hurry Up and Wait can easily turn into Hurry Up, Pause, and Learn.
“Who’s the biggest goofball on set? ”
I know you want to think it’s Anthony but IMHO it’s actually ROGER CROSS
“Who flubs their lines the most?”
Are you trying to get me in trouble, Thogar?
“Practical joker on set?”
One of the camera assistants, occasional focus puller, Michael Purdon
For April Fools this past season he busted into our trailers and put tape marks on the ground for us where he thought we might stand the most. I don’t know if that’s a practical joke. But he does silly things around set to keep things light.[image error]
“Will you and the cast be live tweeting again this year?”
I’ll certainly be making an effort to do so, and I imagine so will the others, schedules permitting! It’s so fun hanging out while watching it for the first time with you guys! Maybe some periscoping this year, too!
Hadley: “I was wondering how it’s been working with Melanie (Liburd)?”
An absolute joy. She is a dedicated professional with grace, style, and wit to spare.
Skywatcher: “Are you learning martial arts with Alex Mallari (Jr.)?”
No! But I should! Homeboy is in the dungeon training all the time and his dedication is inspirational. We’ve only jammed on set a few times about stances and footwork.
Silver: “What is it like to work with Zoie Palmer?”
Zoie, arguably, has the most difficult gig on this ship. The technical jargon she has to get her mouth around is a feat in and of itself but layer in all of the subtleties of a unique personality matrix and her carefully crafted take on how an android might communicate facially, physically, and tonally – AND THEN, watch her turn it all off in-between scenes and just hang out?
What is it like to work with Zoie Palmer? F*%^ing Impressive.[image error]
Jeffrey: “Who is the most hilarious person in the Dark Matter Cast?”
See above. Just wait until the outtakes for Two and Android come out. It’s insanity.
Janie: “What do you think the significance is to the order the crew wakes up?”
You know, I’ve never asked Joe that question. I imagine it had a lot to with the initial characters introductions and setting up that vortex of mistrust based off of ‘who woke up first’, and, because Joe seems to takes an impish delight in misdirecting, SIX woke up last.
bambamfans: “I’m a fan of the ONE/TWO relationship or OTR. I imagine incarceration will put a halt to it. Where do you see their relationship headed in Season 2?”
I saw their relationship go in a direction that took me by surprise. It’ll be interesting to see how the audience receives it!
“Now that they are off the Raza, will any of the characters use their real names rather than the numbers?”
Identity is a big thing that we deal with on this show. Being confronted with their actions in the past as a person who no longer remembers that time has been met differently by each character. TWO, for example wants to be as far away from whoever Portia is/was. With Season Two just around the corner, we’ll have to see if that’s the case for everyone.
June 17, 2016
June 17, 2016: Another Dark Matter Q&A! More Stargate concept art!
Hey, Dark Matter fans! Who’s up for another behind-the-scenes Q&A? While we await Melissa O’Neil and Zoie Palmer’s responses to your burning questions (There were A LOT of them, so be patient!), let’s turn our sights to architect of The Raza – and countless other cool sets, from episode 3’s Blade Runner-esque noodle bar to Alexander Rook’s lab – Production Designer Ian Brock. Seriously. If it wasn’t for him, the crew would be flying around in a refurbished winnebago!
Post your comments for Ian in the comments section. I’ll gather them up over the course of the next few days and send them his way.
And several more Q&A’s in the works including cast members, new AND established (notice I didn’t say “old”?).
Oh crap. Today’s Dark Matter season 2 sneak peek screen shot of the day suggests all sorts of trouble.
MyM Magazine is out now featuring Dark Matter. Check it out!
Well, that’s a wrap on week 1 of the writers’ room. Looks like I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me this weekend fleshing things out and writing things up. It’s ALL coming together. Ish. Sort of. Let’s circle back on this Monday.
Stargate fans, rejoice! I’ve got you covered with glorious art work from SG-1’s “Nightwalkers” courtesy of former Stargate Production Designer James Robbins:
Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Stargate
June 16, 2016
June 16, 2016: Dark Matter premieres! Stargate concept art!
Holy smokes! Approximately two weeks to the Dark Matter season 2 premiere – July 1st on Syfy and SpaceChannel. But what if you don’t live in North America? When will Dark Matter’s second season premiere in YOUR region? Well, I’m glad you asked. Please consult this handy chart that comes our way via the kind folks at SyfyInternational:
Please save and tweet/retweet. Get the word out because you will NOT want to miss our first episode back. Trust me when I say that if you miss it, or wait to watch, you are going to miss out on something BIG!
Today’s Dark Matter season 2 sneak peek screen shot of the day!
The writers’ room was back at it today. Some of the highlight quotes of the day to give you a taste of our creative process:
“It’s very very very rare for time travel stories to make sense.”
“Snakes on a ship!”
“We have no tag.”
Further insight into our creative process, this time in photos capturing my response to some of the ideas thrown my way…
Dubious.
Go on, I’m listening…
Tomorrow, another big Dark Matter fan Q&A announcement!
Continuing our trip down Stargate memory lane with some gorgeous art department material from one of my favorite SG-1 episodes: Nightwalkers!
Spooky barn.
Partially built ship (drawn by James Robbins).
Ship build (sketched by James Robbins).
Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Stargate
June 15, 2016
June 16, 2016: Research, Spinning, and Posting!
Damnit, I knew this was going to happen. 52 pages into the new pilot and things have slowed to a standstill. With the Dark Matter writers’ room in full swing, my attention is focused elsewhere, however I did manage to write a single new scene this morning. At this rate, I’m going to have to revise my ETD (estimated time of delivery) to end of the month. That’s when my “military advisors” (You know who you are!) can expect to see a first draft for vetting purposes.
Yes, it’s military SF. In addition to input from the experts, I’m also doing a little research – by way of reading six books simultaneously to put me in the proper headspace.
By mid-July, all I’ll need is a proper series title and then it’ll be smoooooth sailing!
Not quite as smooth sailing on the DM third season story front, but progress is being made. As I mentioned in previous blog instalments, I have all the pieces of the puzzle but just need to figure out a way to put them together. Which is where Paul, Ivon, Alison, and Lawren come in.
Me, poised to write down one of Ivon’s brilliant ideas.
Like previous seasons, the goal is to pack as much story as possible into these 13 episodes because – who knows? – it could be the show’s (or my) last. Ideally I’ll get to tell the full five season story I have planned, paying off all those clues (hidden and otherwise) and arcs we’ve set up over these first couple of years. If not, don’t worry – you’ll get your ending whether it’ll be in a movie, a comic book, or write here on this blog.
In preparation for the Dark Matter season 2 premiere comes this awesome –
Season 1 retrospect and season 2 look ahead
by Aimee Hicks over at SpoilerTV.com.
Hey, Aussie fans! Dark Matter and Killjoys return to Syfy Australia July 2nd!
Today’s Dark Matter season 2 sneak peek screen shot. Devastation!
More from the Stargate archives = Stargate: SG-1, “Redemption I and II”. Illustrations and designs by James Robbins…
Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Stargate
June 14, 2016
June 14, 2016: Dark Matter writers’ room day 3! Stargate!
Feast your eyes on this super-in-advance Dark Matter sneak teaser! My longtime producing partner, Paul Mullie, did the honors on this one. Pretty sleek, hunh?
Day 2 of the Dark Matter writers’ room comes to an end amid healthy debate, desperate ideas, and soul-crushing frustration. In other words, about par for the course. Also, it was really cold. And rainy. And Alison didn’t bring any donuts.
Today’s Dark Matter season 2 sneak peek screen shot!
Speaking of sneak peeks, check out this awesome shot of Melanie Liburd as Dark Matter’s Nyx Harper (photographed by Norman Wong). As we tick down toward our July 1st season 2 premiere, the photos, interviews, articles and giveaways will be coming fast and furious!
Speaking of giveaways, have you entered for a chance to win a cast-signed copy of our season 2 premiere script (“Episode 14: Welcome To Your New Home) complete with notes and insights on every page from yours truly? Head on over here to get the details on how to enter:
Win a cast-signed Dark Matter script!
Tonight’s the night I join the Geek Soul Brother podcast where I will talk about my dogs, my favorite herbs, and answer your questions about my opinion on such controversial topics as dance shows, hats, and restaurant brussel sprouts.
Fear not, Stargate-fans (most of you who are, no doubt, fans of Dark Matter as well)!
Redemption I and II: Weapon (artist James Robbins)
Redemption I and II: Troop ship (artist James Robbins)
Redemption I and II: Refugee camp (artist James Robbins)
Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Stargate 
June 13, 2016
June 13, 2016: The Dark Matter writers’ room reconvenes!
As much as I liked the familiar confines of The Bridge Studio conference room, I much prefer the season 3 writers’ room with its impressive view (see above).
The most important thing when spinning, next to the stories (well, some would argue AS important) is lunch options. Where’s good to eat? Being right downtown by the water, we have plenty of options: Miku, Meat & Bread, La Taqueria. At the end of these three weeks, even if we fail to break single story, the lunches we’ll enjoy will make it all worthwhile.
Hey, eagle-eyed Stargate fans, notice that yellow mass in the distant background? Look familiar? Maybe this will refresh your memories…
That giant pile of sulphur has been sitting there for some 20 years now (at least)! Yes, giant pile of sulphur. I imagine the cast and crew had a great time shooting in that particular location.
The Dark Matter season 3 writers’ room. Pictured from left to right: Executive Producer Paul Mullie on the phone with agent planning his exit strategy, Supervising Producer Ivon Bartok resisting the donuts, Story Editor Alison Hepburn tapping her archival knowledge of the show’s first two seasons. Not pictured: Supervising Producer Lawren Bancroft-Wilson (it was too early for him as this picture was taken at 11 am…in the morning!), and yours truly.
Today’s Dark Matter sneak peek screen shot – something a little…moody.
Oooh, check it out. TVInsider has some sexy first look photos from Dark Matter’s second season, shot by uber-awesome photographer Norman Wong.
First Look Dark Matter Season 2
You like?
A little something for the Stargate fans – early puddle jumper designs by Peter Bodnarus…
Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Stargate
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