Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 345

June 3, 2016: Dark Matter goodies! Stargate eye candy! Signed scripts!

Less than a month to go before the Dark Matter season 2 premiere – yet only a little over a week to go before the writers’ room convenes to start spinning the show’s third season.  Optimistic much?  Well, yes, and you would be too if you saw what was in store for you in the show’s second season.   It’s pretty glorious and the screen shots don’t do it justice but Here’s a little something VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson and his gang are presently working on…

 

And here’s a pic from one of my very favorite scenes of season 2…

Speaking of favorites – hey, did I mention we’d be seeing Mike Dopud in season 2? Here’s a shot of him having a little sit-down with The Raza’s resident rogue, played by the cast’s resident rogue, Anthony Lemke… 

In celebration of the new season, I (in conjunction with SyfyInternational) will be offering fans a chance to win scripts.

Not just scripts, but signed scripts (signed by the entire cast!).

NOT just signed scripts but annotated signed scripts chock full o’ notes from yours truly offering up insights and behind-the-scenes tidbits on the episode from script to finished product.

I’ve been all over reddit, imgur, tumblr, twitter, instagram, youtube, and facebook getting the word out about our season premiere – and also dropping some eye candy from another little franchise I worked on a while back…

No, not that one!

This one…

Wraith warrior design by James Robbins.

Far-future City of Atlantis design by James Robbins for “The Last Man”.

The sand-flooded corridors of Atlantis.

Bad Grandpa!  Who is this curmudgeony old coot?

Build your own ZPM!  Here’s how!

Who’s excited for more scifi?!

 

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis

June 2, 2016: Bubba’s unruly travels! Dark Matter first looks pics! More casting announcements!

We are back in Vancouver – and failing fast.   On the surface, it seemed like a good idea at the time: wake up REALLY early and catch the first flight out so that the dogs would, presumably, sleep the entire five hours enroute.  And, yeah, we did wake up at 4 a.m.  And we did catch the 6:50 a.m. flight out.  And Lulu was as quiet as a mouse for the entirety of the trip.  But Bubba!  Cantankerous, anxiety-prone, almost-14 year old Bubba?  He whined and cried and poked his head out of the carrier and made certain I didn’t sleep a wink either.

But the important thing is we’re back home.  And look at what was awaiting us, a little gift from our house-sitter, Tomomi:

Yep, it’s a hand-painted depiction of the diabolical duo doing what they do best…impatiently awaiting treats.

So, hey, while I was in the air, things were happening on the ground.  First up, Entertainment Weekly offered fans exclusive photos of new Dark Matter cast additions: Franka Potenta, Melanie Liburd, and Shaun Sipos…and also announced the casting of Stargate veteran Mike Dopud (who has been in pretty much every live action show I’ve ever produced), and Scott Pilgrim’s Knives Chau, Ellen Wong.

“Dopud will play Arax, “the powerful head of a prison gang” whose “extensive connections and pull with criminal outfits throughout colonized space would be Arax’s biggest asset should the crew ever decide to trust him,” Syfy said. Wong will portray Misaki, described as a “close childhood friend of Four” who is the “deadly new Commander of the Ishida Royal Guard. Skilled in combat and diplomacy, nothing will stop Misaki from performing her duty to Zairon.”

Franka as Commander Shaddick…

Melanie Liburd as Nyx Harper…

Shaun Sipos as Devon Taltherd…

Mike Dopud, behind the scenes, as Arax Nero…

Ellen Wong, behind the scenes, as Misaki Han…

Meanwhile, over on Io9 gives the rundown of How Dark Matter and Killjoys are raising the stakes for season 2.

Hey, look!  It’s me demonstrating proper use of the escape pod!

With less than a month to go, we start rolling out some major behind the scenes goodies.  Stay tuned to this blog for oodles of Dark Matter fun stuff!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Ellen Wong, Melanie Liburd, Mike Dopud, Shaun Sipos

June 1, 2016: And that’s a wrap on Toronto!

Pictured above: My french bulldog, Lulu, let’s me know she’s ready to head back home.

And good thing to because, after weeks of prep, 90+ days of production, and seemingly interminable meetings, mixes, and migraines, we are Vancouver-bound.  I’ll be waking up tomorrow bright dark and early – 4 a.m.! – and head out with the dogs for a nice little walk, make sure they’re good and emptied out.  Our pick-up is at 5 a.m. for a 6:50 a.m. flight out, the first of the day!  Let me tell you, production can be incredibly challenging but nothing equals the stress of flying with your dogs.  Lulu usually quiet as a mouse but Bubba, my 13 (almost 14) year old pug can get a little cranky when he’s hungry.  Cranky and vocal, wailing like a child during the in-flight meal service.  BUT, it’s only five hours in the air (and roughly 30 minutes on either side) and then we’re back home and I can finally relax.

Juuuuust kidding.  There’ll be no relaxation for me.  I’ve got interviews lined up online and over on imgur.com, an upcoming reddit AMA, and my relentless online campaign to get the word out in advance of our July 1st season 2 premiere.  There’s that new pilot I’ve been working on (30 pages in!) and, oh yeah, starting June 13th, the Dark Matter writing department convenes to break stories for the show’s third season.  No, we haven’t been picked up…yet…but having seen the first five finished episodes, I’m feeling confident audiences are going to be blown away.  And that official pick-up will soon follow.

And, once we’re underway, I’m coordinating with the teams at Syfy digital and SyfyInternational on some fantastic fan giveaways.  Stay tuned!

A few Dark Matter-related links to prep you for our return:

Excellent Sci-fi on SyFy – Black Girl Nerds

Dark Matter Season 2 Promo, Premiere Date and More

Dark Matter Season 1 on DVD – Funimation

Dark Matter season 2 trailer:

Dark Matter season 2 deluxe edition:

See you in Vancouver!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

May 31, 2016: The Dark Matter season 2 deluge!

And so it begins!  But beware!  Spoilers abound!

The Nerdist offers up 9 Things We Learned Trekking in Space with Killjoys and Dark Matter

The TVJunkies offers up their own insights from their set Dark Matter set visit: What We Learned About Season 2

Not be outdone, the gang at TVGoodness focuses on yours truly and the promises I apparently made – though, to be fair, I was super drunk during this interview and can’t be held responsible for what I said: Joseph Mallozzi Promises to Put the Dark in Dark Matter

Seat42F, meanwhile, has the Season 2 Scoop and Interviews with various cast members (Well, those who were shooting that day, anyway).

Meanwhile, cast members Roger Cross, Zoie Palmer, Melissa O’Neil, and Jodelle Ferland hit up MCM, London Comic Con where they partook in a few interviews…

You ready?!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Dark Matter Season 2

May 30, 2016: New-look Android! New cast members!

Interesting.  I came across this photo of our lovable Android over on Syfy.com. Among the other goodies, the site offers a breakdown of the season 2 cast and Raza crew including…

Melanie’s Liburd’s Nyx Harper and…

Shaun Sipos’ young medic, Devon.

In addition, there’s are new pics of some familiar faces accompanied by character descriptions and a little background on each cast member.  Check it out!

http://www.syfy.com/darkmatter/cast/2

In addition, there’s a season 1 refresher – but only for those who have already seen it.

http://www.syfy.com/darkmatter/photos/season-one-101

For everyone else, there’s still time to binge Dark Matter’s first season on Netflix or over on Syfy.com!

Finally, while on the Syfy site, you can also peruse this rundown of The Raza crew – and what we know about them…

http://www.syfy.com/darkmatter/photos/character-gallery

Meanwhile, @AdamSquareOne offers his own Dark Matter fan primer:

Hang in there!  Approximately one month to our Dark Matter season 2 premiere!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Dark Matter Season 2

May 29, 2016: Cutie and the Boxer and the Pug!

So, a couple of weeks ago, Akemi and I watched a documentary about artist Ushio Shinohara and his wife (and fellow artist) Noriko.  Ushio is known for his boxing paintings which involve him donning a pair of boxing gloves, dipping them in paint, and then pummelling out his artistic expression on canvas.

The film, by Zachary Heinzerling, is great and you should definitely check it out on Netflix.  Anyway, it inspired our Bubba – not a boxer but a pug – to do a little artistic pummelling of his own.  With a  little help from Akemi and I…

The artist double-checks his equipment.

Sourced from Michael’s and the local Pet View: paints, painting equipment, sponges, doggy socks and booties.

Akemi spent much of last night, carefully cutting out tiny little circular sponges she then glued to rubber dog booties.

She chose to go blue – dark and light.

And set up the mini canvases at a dedicated boxing/painting station.

The artist was outfitted with the proper equipment.

Then transferred over to yours truly who would help direct his artistic expression.

Ready to punch out a masterpiece!

Bubba creates!

Bubba proudly displays his work.

Now to get these babies framed.

A hard-earned rest.

May 28, 2016: Dissecting the NEW new Dark Matter season 2 exteeeeeeended trailer!

Here it is!  And it’s a long one, an extended trailer chock full of tiny teasers.

Let’s break it down with a shot by shot analysis!

An establisher of what we suspect is the Hyperion-8 Maximum Security Facility.

TWO, THREE, and FOUR presumably entering the prison’s Gen Pop area.  But where’s the rest of the crew?

Well, here’s ONE!  And he’s got a question: “What is this place?”

Hey, it’s SIX.  In uniform no less.  Does it say “Varrick” on his name plate?  He responds: “Hyperion-8, Galactic Maximum Security Facility.”  Told ya!  But where are FIVE and the Android?

An overhead shot of some mystery individuals, THREE among them, being blasted by something.  What’s going on?  Putting together the pieces from the previous promos, a safe guess would be some sort of decontamination?

Then, a shot of FOUR.  He asks: “”What happened to us?”.  Can we assume that this question follows on the heels of last season’s shocking finale?  How long have they been unconscious?

Oh crap!  Here’s FIVE, seemingly seeking the safety of the familiar ship’s vents – only to get snagged by someone.

…pulled back and unceremoniously dumped.  Now who the hell would manhandle our lovable FIVE – and how the hell did they get onboard?



“When you can’t trust your friends…”says the voice-over, over a shot of a distrustful-looking THREE flanked by a mysterious individual (who, if you’ve been following the recent Dark Matter developments, recognize as the new ship’s medic, Devon, played by Shaun Sipos)…

…and a shot of SIX, seemingly matching his gaze.

“Someone sold us out,”says ONE.  Aha.  The only one who knows the mole’s true identity is TWO.

FIVE reacts. Well, this makes some sense.  TWO, THREE, and FOUR – the hardened criminals – end up in Gen Pop while ONE and FIVE… Are on their own?

Someone grabs a unique-looking weapon.  Not your average sidearm.

“…trust the law…”continues the voice-over and, WHAM, on cue, SIX slams someone up against the wall. A familiar looking someone.  Hey, is that Lieutenant Anders (played by Jeff Teravainen), the rebel in league with The General, who made a surprise appearance flanking SIX in his slow walk down the corridor at the end of season 1?   The two are sporting very similar uniforms.  Food for thought.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!”SIX demands to know.  And, boy, he looks pissed.  What could he be referring to?  What important piece of information was left out of what discussion?

Enter another mystery someone (but if you’ve been getting your Dark Matter updates, you’ll recognize the character of Nyx Harper played by Melanie Liburd).

“…or even trust yourself…”says the voice-over as THREE stares up, a strange green light playing over his left eye.  Looks a little ominous.  And cyborgy!

“What the hell am I supposed to do?”a clearly frustrated FIVE asks the Android.  Wait!  Not the Android, but the Android’s default projecting – in her trademark red uniform – last scene in the season 1 finale when FIVE deleted her.

“…trust your instincts,”says the voice-over and we go to a shot of THREE in the great outdoors facing off against someone in a classic quick-draw set-up.

FOUR steps into the shot, clutching a bo staff, confronting someone.  Practice or something more ominous?

“So, are we doing this thing?”asks THREE in his prison regs.  FOUR, in the foreground, is listening.

“You’re damn right we’re doing it,”responds a confident TWO.  Doing what?

And then, all hell breaks loose.  It looks like a free-for-all in Gen Pop. TWO takes out what appears to be a fellow prisoner.

The Android grabs someone (we now know to be Chief Inspector Shaddick of the G.A. Serious Crimes Division, played by Franka Potente).

The prisoners pitch a guard off one of Gen Pop’s upper levels.  The crew of The Raza are clearly a bad influence.

The Android goes by in a flash – laying the beatdown on multiple opponents, her hair down, her clothing atypical of her formal wear.

TWO takes someone down, hard, in The Raza corridor.  Are we dealing with another incursion?

A sword-wielding someone (we can safely assume is Misaki Han, the new Commander of the Royal Guard of Ishida, played by Ellen Wong) faces off against someone while another unidentified individual –  Devon? – stands and watches in the background.

Can we assume her opponent is none other than the former Ryo Ishida, FOUR?

Nyx demonstrates some firearm savvy.

“Am I the only one who found that just a little sexy?”asks THREE, possibly in reference to said skills?  Does this mean Nyx is joining the team?

TWO swings a look, surprised by something.  The architecture suggests she’s not on The Raza.

Uh oh.  FIVE is wearing the neural connectors, last seen in Episode 106 when she explored the memories buried in her subconscious.  Are doing a little more cerebral spelunking?

“Solving the mystery…”says the voice-over as ONE cautiously makes his way down a long, dark tunnel, gun out.

“…of who you really are…”says the voice-over as a floor panel is removed to reveal an access hatch to an underground chamber.  FOUR, THREE, TWO, and Nyx stare down at us.

FOUR, gun out, walks the corridors of The Raza.  Another hint that there is someone (or something) unwelcome onboard.

A quick shot of TWO looking…um…disconcertingly cocky.  What’s up with her?

“…can cost you…”says the voice-over as we go to a shot of…THREE holding a gun…on FIVE?!   Who should we be questioning in this little scenario?

“…everything,”concludes the voice-over as we go to a shot of our Android, hooked up to some nasty contraption that appears to burrow into the back of her head.  She trembles, showing apparent discomfort.  What is happening to her?  Is this a prelude to the red Android’s return.  Or the casual-looking Android in the previous shot?

“Sounds messy,”says TWO in what appears to be that tunnel system we caught a peek at earlier.

We flash through four labels: “lifesaver” (they are), “murderer” (this too), human (most), superhuman (a couple.

A shot of FIVE, flanked by the Android, wielding THREE’s big gun, Bubba.  A little sequence I’ve been wanting to do since midway through the show’s first season.

A couple of unlucky recipients of Bubba’s blast go for a ride.

Hyperion-8 is rocked by a tremendous explosion.

More labels: “police” (possibly), “criminal” (certainly), “friend” (hopefully), “enemy” (seemingly).

“Long time no see,”says a guy who looks like ONE.  But there’s something about the guy…

Oh, hell, he’s got a gun!

 And we conclude with the season premiere date: July 1st on Syfy!

Whew!  What do you think?

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

May 27, 2016: Odds ‘n ends, Dark Matter and otherwise!

This morning, I attended my last mix in Toronto.  I can’t tell you how awesome this new season of Dark Matter looks and sounds.  Everything from the visuals to the soundscape to the music is incredible and an enormous ramp-up from the show’s first season.  We have a lot of very talented people working on this show, both in front of and behind the camera, and I cannot wait for you to see what we have in store.   I await our July 1st premiere with a mix of pride, excitement, and apprehension.

You’d think that, with production on season 2 wrapped and post-production nearing the halfway mark, I could relax.  But no.  Today, I wrote up the one pager for the proposed Dark Matter spinoff (You heard it here first, folks!).  Although it shares similarities with the original, this series will offer a far out premise that SF-fans will truly get behind.  But more on that in the coming months…hopefully.

Meanwhile, I hit the 16 page mark on that super-secret scifi project I mentioned in an earlier blog entry.  Roughly one third of the way through the pilot, I’m still aiming to have a completed first draft by mid to late June.  At which point I can switch off and have my partner set up the new series while I spin and break Dark Matter’s third season.

Then, it’s off to L.A. for some long overdue meet ‘n greets.   I have four more pilots (and a simply adorable horror feature script) in search of a good home and I’d love nothing more than to get the ball rolling or any or all before heading back to Van and starting script work on Dark Matter’s third season.

September, Akemi and I will be Tokyo(and possibly Osaka)-bound for two weeks and, upon our return – or, hopefully, well before – I should have word on Dark Matter’s fate.  I AM feeling positive.

Should it all fall into place as expected, we’ll be returning to Toronto in October for prep and then, in November,the commencement of principal photography on our third season.  Three episodes by December, the holiday break, then back for the final ten and then…

The spinoff?

The new scifi series?

One of the pilots?

The horror film?

I open up a gelato shop and spend the entire summer reading?

Any suggestions?

P.S.  One more Dark Matter season 2 trailer out, this one an extended version chock full o’ interesting insights.  You can track it down tonight or wait until tomorrow for the full shot by shot breakdown!

May 26, 2016: A first look at our new ship – the Ishida Cruiser!

Door to the bridge – under construction.

The bridge – under construction.  Lights, monitors, texturing and details still to come.

From the outside looking in.

One of the command consoles.

Closer… I’m thinking a rotating command chair up front and center.

Shooting on the bridge of the Ishida cruiser.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

May 25, 2016: NEW Dark Matter season 2 trailer! Let’s break it down!

On the heels of THIS awesome 15 second promo from the gang at Syfy Publicity and Marketing:

Comes THIS awesome 40 second trailer from the gang at SyfyInternational:

Let’s break it down!

Big heavy security doors slide open on a familiar sight (for those who saw the promo): THREE, TWO, and FOUR stripped down, carrying what look like piles of clothing.  But where are they going?

Editing trickering or answer?  Could this be the Hyperion-8 Intergalactic Maximum Security Prison alluded to in the off-season?  If so, it looks like our crew don’t exactly receive a warm welcome from the prisoners.

“What is this place?”asks THREE.  Maybe we have our answer?

We hear SIX inform someone: “Galactic Maximum Security Facility” over a gorgeous establisher of what we can only presume is the place itself.  Which begs the question – IF our crew manage to get outside, what then?  The atmosphere looks decidedly Inhospitable.

“It was you,”says FIVE in apparent disbelief.  You who?  I’m sure you can all make your educated guesses.

Oh damn!  She slaps a uniformed SIX.  Payback for what happened in the season 1 finale?!

Brown is the new black!  A shot of TWO in what looks like prison attire.

FOUR clutching what appears to be a set of those standard prison issues stands in a cell as a force shield activates behind him.  We hear someone say: “You and your friends…”

“…need to understand the way things work.”  Who is this guy offering the “helpful” advice?

Welp, THREE seems to be learning the way things work in this prison compliments of a left cross delivered by a kick-ass fellow prisoner.  Could this be the mysterious Nyx Harper (Melanie Liburd), the potential new crew member alluded to over the hiatus.  If so, we’re off to a rough start!

Well, now. Who is this mystery woman flanked by the two swordsmen.  Could this be Misaki, Han-Shireikan, the new Commander of the Imperial Royal Guard of Ishida?  She looks like she means business.

ALL business!

Frank Potente, who we now know is playing the role of Inspector Shaddick of the G.A.’s Serious Crimes Division pulls a gun on FIVE.  On FIVE!

Oh, damn.  Things DO NOT look good for FIVE.  But she seems defiant.  What’s got Shaddick so mad?  And why is she taking it out on the kid?

A beautiful shot of The Raza dropping out of FTL.  “There’s a war coming,”says someone.  A war coming? Between who?  And what does it have to do with us?

“THE PAST IS DANGEROUS”.  Yes, that much was made very clear in season 1.  And the past CAN come back to haunt.

“What did you do on that ship?”Shaddick asks someone, presumably interrogating one of our crew.

A shot of FIVE using the neural links.  Is this part of the interrogation or something else?

FOUR in his prison issues clutching a blade, facing off against…someone?  How’d he get a sword inside a maximum security facility?  And who is he about to slice and dice?

“THE PRESENT IS DEADLY” – as we’re learning.  And there’s apparently nowhere to hide.

Is that our Android, looking VERY relaxed, in what appears to be a bar?  Long hair?  New look?  “You don’t think I can handle myself?”she asks.

Hmmm.  Our mystery woman clutching a sword in what could be the B-side to the earlier shot of FOUR clutching a sword of his own.  Is FOUR about to add one more to his growing body count – or has he met his match.  And, hey, who’s that standing in the background, watching.

Our Android (if that is really her) proves that she CAN take care of herself – in brutally efficient fashion.

“THE FUTURE IS DARK”.  Oh, it is, it is.  As I’ve been telling anyone who will listen, this season will put the “dark” in “Dark Matter”.

A very determined FIVE says: “Kill them all.”  Coincidentally, that’s the name of our second episode of the new season.  Who is she talking to?  Who is she talking about?  Cold!

The prisoners throw someone – could be a guard – off one of the upper levels. THAT is quite possibly a reprimandable offense.

All hell breaks loose in Gen. Pop.  THREE appears to be fighting side by side with the helpful advisor from earlier on.

A section of the Hyperion-8 facility, around the area of hangar bay, is wracked by an enormous explosion.

Rapid-fire quick cuts!  This first – a battered and bleary THREE.  This shot matches a shot from the previous promo but, in the that one, a strange green interactive light plays in one of his eyes.

ONE, looking business casual – a far cry from the prison issues being sported by TWO, THREE, and FOUR.  Where’s he at if he’s not in Hyperion-8 with the rest of the hardened criminals?

TWO smiling.  I don’t know about you, but there’s something unsettling about that smile.

FOUR looking like he’s about to lay down a serious beatdown.

FIVE looks…unhappy.

SIX looking downright angry.  But with who?  And why?

What do you think?  Did you catch anything I may have missed?  Let’s discuss!

And prepare for Dark Matter’s second season, coming your way soon!  Check out our international premiere dates…

July 1st: U.S. (Syfy) and Canada (SpaceChannel)

July 2nd: Australia (Syfy Australia)

July 4th: U.K. (Syfy UK)

July 5th: Spain (Syfy Spain)

July 11th: Germany (Syfy Germany)

More premiere dates to come!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter, Dark Matter Season 2