Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 357

March 19, 2016: Comic Con!

Akemi and I had walked two block past the convention center and one block down when I realized that the cosplayer we were following was actually a garishly dressed homeless man.  We doubled back, found the correct entrance and we were at Comic Con!

A quick visual rundown of the 37 minutes I spent there…

I pass Jabba the Hutt on my way to the coat check.  I think he misplaced his car keys.

Caught these two guys smoking outside the coat check.  They quickly butted out when they saw me.

The extended Spiderman family argue over directions to the bathroom.

I think they were some kind of forest royalty.  Princesses Loosestrife and Sapodilla.

I never watched Sailor Moon growing up so I can’t be sure, but I thought Sailor Moon was blond.

And slightly less hirsute.

Toronto’s Open carry law is limited to large bladed weapons.

Even Batman’s a fanboy.

Batman can’t believe the roaming charges.

Spock gets an elf’s phone number.  The guy is smooth!

It wasn’t until they returned home that John and Sara discovered their purse and wallet were missing.

I don’t tend to give money to drifters but this guy was unusually persistent.

I thought the pink feather boa was a tad O.T.T.

On our way out, we stopped by the entrance to Room 801 a half hour before the Dark Matter panel.  Looked like a pretty impressive early turnout.

Celebrity spotting at the panel!  Director Peter DeLuise!

Who went?  How was it?  Spoilers? 

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

March 18, 2016: Brand new season 2 episode title!

It’s been a lot of fun working with director Peter DeLuise again.  The last time we were together on set was, oh, five years ago on a little Stargate: Universe episode called “Deliverance”.  Remember…

THIS?!

Ah, good times.  Good times.

And some pretty damn good times on the set of Dark Matter.

Today, we were at the headquarters of Alexander Rook’s Dwarf Star Technologies for the episode in which our crew bring in their air conditioning unit to get repaired.  Riveting stuff!

We also shut down production so that Peter and I could do an interview for the Brampton Film Office.  While we were chatting, an extra strayed out of his pen and wound up accidentally locking himself in the men’s bathroom for most of the afternoon.

Hey!  The people have spoken.  YOU have chosen a brand new episode title for Dark Matter’s second season.  Again.  To date, these are the titles YOU’VE chosen so far…

“Episode 14: Welcome To Your New Home”

“Episode 15: Kill Them All”

“Episode 16: I’ve Seen The Other Side Of You”

“Episode 17: We Were Family”

“Episode 18: We Voted Not To Space You”

“Episode 19: We Should Have Seen This Coming”

I agreed with 3 of your choices; disagreed on 3.  After today’s results, my overall record is 3-4.  But that’s the great thing about democracy – the fact that even the most promising options, facing even the longest of odds, can be thoroughly crushed by the will of the masses.

And the Episode 207 winner is…

“Episode 20: She’s One Of Them Now”

Discuss.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

March 18, 2016: Vote on a new episode title!

Why should primary voters have all the fun?

Cast your ballot for your favorite Episode 207 title.  But be quick!  Polls close in 24 hours!

Take Our Poll

 Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

March 16, 2016: Dark Matter day 63 of 101!

As much as I agonize over these scripts, I have a feeling that, once I’ve completed the last one for this season, I’ll feel as wistful as my frenchie, Lulu, on a rainy Wednesday morning.

THREE’s new “shades”.

  Eyewear of another kind, compliments of props.

Director Andy Mikita plots his next move.

Space food!  I highly recommend the blue biscotti.

And a little something from our 1st Assistant Art Director Kelly Diamond:

Make sure you sign in with reception!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

March 15, 2016: Dark Matter day 62 of 101!

It’s hard to believe that we just started production three months ago.  Even harder to believe that we’ve only shot 60% of Dark Matter’s second season.  Only 60%! I mean, honestly, it feels like the finish line is within sight based solely on my anxiety levels.  I delivered the script for 211 yesterday which now means the pressure is ON for me to complete the script for 212 in timely fashion.  Like every season of every show I’ve ever worked on, I tell myself that once I complete my last script, it’ll be smoooooth sailing.  I’ll be able to relax, enjoy my free time, resume my reading and t.v.-watching ways, and, best of all, NOT have to think about scripts.  But, deep down, I know the reality will be that the moment I finish that last script, I’ll start making plans for the next one, the next season, the next show.

Shooting on the rooftop.

Or are we?

That was a rhetorical question.  No.  We’re not.

Probably the most nefarious-looking wall vents on television.

Episode 209’s mystery vials.  Come on.  Guess their contents!

Uh oh.  Man (?) down!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

March 14, 2016: Dark Matter Day 61 of 101!

And, specifically, Day #5 of Episode 208.  Andy Mikita directing.  I have a feeling that Dark Matter fans are going to love this one as much as the cast!

What awaits our crew down this long, dark corridor?  Oh, you don’t want to know.   

A homecoming of sorts for our stupendous swordsman.

Corporate Interests #1: The Mikkei Combine’s Commander Truffault.

Corporate Interests #2: Ferrous Corp’s Commander Nieman.

A little something from our playback department.

Jodelle Ferland kills time on set in typical Jodelle fashion.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

March 13, 2016: Things that have landed on my patio but, thankfully, not my head. Yet.

The view from my patio of the neighboring construction positively looming overhead.

Last year, when we lived in this apartment, Akemi would joke that the construction on neighboring building was so close that she could play catch with the construction workers.  Well, we returned to the same apartment this year to find the construction had inched just a tad closer.  How close?  Well, THIS close –

I mean, forget about catch.  She can just hand the ball over the one foot gap separating our patio and theirs.

If you’re wondering about that impromptu safety tarp that covers roughly one eighth of the balcony – well, you’re not the only one.  It seems a bit of a half-hearted gesture considering the wide array of interesting items I discover every time I step outside in the morning.

For instance, over the last month, the following have landed on my patio from the towering construction site next door:

Styrofoam chunks!

Random plastics!

Rusty nails!

A hunk of wood!

Pieces of concrete!

A discarded take-out coffee cup!

Whatever these are!

A long piece of wood…

With several nails sticking it out of it!

And last, but certainly not least: This post-it note reminder to google search the 4 steps of “Worker Awareness”.  I suspect they’re missing a few.

March 12, 2016: Yet another Saturday blog entry!

First off, thanks to everyone who expressed outrage, disappointment, and general apathy toward the revelation that I have been shadowbanned on reddit.  I had hoped that cross-posting my blog entries on other sites would offer up access to behind the scenes pics, vids, and insights to those who may not be aware of the blog, opening up opportunities for discussion on other venues like twitter, Facebook, reddit, and, of course, The National Weather Service.  Apparently, reddit’s admins frown on heavy cross-promotion which, I suppose, is understandable.  While I’d love to be a more active redditor, the truth is, with all of the demands of prep, production, and post-production, I have little time for much else net-related outside of this blog.  And so, while the notion of being shadowboxed is somewhat annoying. at the end of the day, it’s really neither here nor there.  On the upside, a couple of the moderators have been kind enough to approve my posts and comments, thus ensuring that not all of my inane ramblings are lost to history.

Pictured above: Akemi models her new dress.

Pictured above: Lulu in her post-walk sprawl.

Hard to believe we have less than two months to go on Dark Matter’s second season.  Production continues on Episode 208 with director Andy Mikita while prep resumes on Episode 209 with director Peter DeLuise.  Jason Priestley starts work on his director’s cut of Episode 207, while Episodes 201 through 206 are LOCKED! Paul puts out his revised writer’s draft of Episode 210 on Monday while I deliver my writer’s draft of Episode 211 that same day.  I’m 32 pages into Episode 212 and, by the time I’ve completed a first draft, my writing partner Paul will be back in town to talk about the BIG season finale.

Ooooh.  We have guests!

Tagged: Dark Matter

March 11, 2016: Shadowbanned! Overdressed kale salad! And I have the best smelling eyeball on set!

I had a bad feeling about today early on.  Call it sixth sense.  Or a premonition.  Or the fiery sting of my Jack Black cologne that I inadvertently sprayed directly into my right eye this morning after getting dressed.  I just knew.  And, sure enough, today, a few on-set snafus were followed by a rare “second set o’ notes” on episode 209, capped by an overdressed kale salad for lunch.  But I really shouldn’t complain. It’s all part of the job.  Except, of course, for the overdressed kale salad. And, arguably, the cologne in the eye.  Anyway –

This afternoon, I discovered I’d been shadow-banned on reddit.  It sounds positively nefarious (SHADOWBANNED!)  and I said as much in a comment when someone posted the news on this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Stargate/comments/49ya9v/is_there_a_way_to_contact_joseph_mallozzi_i/

But, of course, no one replied because my comment is not visible to readers since, well, I’ve been shadowbanned. I guess it’s sort of like “ghosting” someone, that practice of totally cutting a former partner out of your life except that my  relationship was with reddit and I’ve obviously done something to offend.  Did I post too many links to my daily behind-the-scenes updates on the show?  Was it bad form to upvote nice reader comments on my own thread?  Should I have made more of an effort to post comments on other threads, like that video of the dancing bus driver or that picture of a 12 year old Matt Damon?  Or was it simply a matter of not being expressive enough of my appreciation for all the love and support?  I assume I’ll never know.

Well, there goes that AMA I was planning for June.  Guess we’ll have to do it here.

Today, let me leave you with a little pic from the bridge of The Raza.

Hey!  What’s HE doing here?!

Also, this adorable pic of my dogs –

Wait! The dog pics!  Is reddit anti-brachycephalic breed?  Hmmmm.

March 10, 2016: Dark Matter news! Pics! Designs! And graphics!

Breaking News!  Ish.

The cast of Dark Matter will be appearing at next weekend’s Toronto Comic Con. Catch their panel at 3 p.m., Saturday March 19th!  Room 801!

I’ll also be there to support the show – in spirit, by walking the floor and checking out the comic book-related merchandise.  Come find me!  I’ll be the guy buying Iron Man arc reactor cufflinks on Saturday afternoon.

Oh crap!  I was strolling by set recently and came across THIS sight –

To quote a certain gangly grey guest star from an episode of Stargate: Atlantis: “Crap, indeed!”

Since you all had a hand in selecting the model, click on the above image for a full-size high-rez peek at artist Jon Hrubesch’s awesome design for Alicia Reynaud’s ship.  After considering the input on this blog, twitter, Facebook, and a couple of other sites, we elected to incorporate elements from two of the choices (#4 and #6) to create this sleek and sexy battle vessel.

Thanks for the input!

Tonight marks an end to two back-to-back double unit (and double Stargate: Atlantis veteran) days.  While Andy Mikita was shooting the on-ship mayhem, Jason Priestley was capturing the on-station chaos.  We should be seeing a director’s cut of 207 sometime next week, meaning you’ll all get the chance to vote on a brand new episode title soon!

Finally, I can’t think of a better way to conclude this entry than with this gem from 1st Assistant Art Director Kelly Diamond:

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter