Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 363

December 7, 2015: Final days of prep on Dark Matter Episode 201!

It’s the final days of prep on the Dark Matter second season premiere.  This morning, I attended and 8 a.m. stage walk-thru with VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson and the rest of the gang.  While Lawren was discussing the green screen challenges with Director Amanda Tapping, Director of Photography Craig Wright was running some camera tests of the prison’s second level balcony to check for any moire issues (Got ’em!).  Then, it was back to the production offices for at 10:00 a.m. VFX review meeting followed by a double script review AND smoked meat sandwiches courtesy of Production Manager Robbie David – and Centre Street Deli!

Construction commences on our “interior whale” sequence, Episode 204.

To dissuade prisoners from climbing up and out, we actually put a roof on the place!

Craig on cam.

Looking pretty good.  Now, all we need is set dressing, props, cast and background.

This is a Presidential suite compared to the tight confines of the adjoining solitary unit.

LBW goes fry-diving.

The man of the (lunch) hour: Robbie David.  And his fancy new haircut.

Another Hyperion-8 playback graphic:

c/o 1st Assistant Art Director Kelly Diamond (pictured working below in the Police Files/Murder Investigation playback graphic:

Tomorrow marks our last day of prep.  On tap…

9:30 – Episode 201 production meeting

13:30 – Episode 201 cast read-thru

And then, Wednesday = 1st day of principal photography on season 2 (Episode 201) begins with director Amanda Tapping while…

Prep begins on Episode 202 with director Bruce McDonald…

10:00 – 11:00 – Set walk-thru

14:00 – 15:30 – Episode 202 concept meeting

It’s about to get crazy here!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

December 6, 2015: The fictional food of my youth I always wanted to try!

SCOOBY SNACKS

I know, they’re dog treats – but not just any old dog treats.  Given the way they set Scooby off every time he was offered one, they must have been super-tasty.  Also addictive.  Yeah, who are we kidding.  They were probably laced with some illicit substances as well.  But no doubt delicious illicit substances.

MARY ANN’S COCONUT CREAM PIE

Sure, I’ve enjoyed plenty of coconut cream pies in my day, but I suspect none hold a candle to THE most spectacular cream pie of all – the one Mary Ann made on Gilligan’s Island.

BRONTOSAURUS BURGER

The ultimate burger straight outta Bedrock.  And paleo friendly!

WONKA BAR

Way back, before I discovered Amedei chuao or porcelana, there was this gold standard chocolate bar I desperately wanted to get my hands on when I was a kid.  The golden ticket would’ve been nice, but I would’ve been perfectly happy with a Wonka bar.

THREE COURSE DINNER CHEWING GUM

Starts with tomato soup, segues into roast beef with baked potato, and ends with blueberry pie.

GREEN EGGS AND HAM

I’d probably eat them anywhere, with anyone.

Tagged: fictional food

December 5, 2015: Specs and sketch!

“I can read distant street names but I have a hard time telling who I’m kissing.”

– Me trying to explain my farsightedness to Akemi.

Apparently, I need reading glasses.  I say “apparently” because I’ve been doing just fine without them although my optometrist feels there’s room for improvement.  I’m trying to hold off on making them a permanent part of my routine which has disappointed Akemi who believes I risk worsening my condition (and also finds my quite dashing in the specs).  She seems to have accepted the fact that I refuse to use them for my late-night reading, but that doesn’t stop her from slipping them into my laptop case or into my carry-on whenever I travel. While I appreciate her concern – and persistence – I think I’m making the right call here.  I’ll never forget my writing partner telling me, years ago, that once you start wearing reading glasses, you’re reliant on them for life.   Sort of like antibiotics or smartphones or NFL Redzone.

Am I crazy?

Hey, check this out –

Preliminary sketch of a Galactic Authority officer’s uniform c/o Dark Matter Costume Designer Noreen Landry.   

December 4, 2015: Counting down to Dark Matter’s second season!

Production on Dark Matter’s second season commences Wednesday, December 9th with the ever-awesome Amanda Tapping at the director’s helm.  Amanda has been BUSY these last few days, scouting, meeting, selecting, and generally prepping her vision of our big season premiere.  The cast and crew are thrilled to have her back!

As we barrel toward our first day of principal photography, the final pieces are slotting into place…

Oooh.  The roof in Gen. Pop. is coming along nicely, as is the rest of the structure.

I’d describe the cells as austere-Spartan chic!

As I’ve often said: “It’s the small things” – in this case, all the tiny details that make up the wall elements on Hyperion-8 – that lend the show that depth of realism.

Hyperion-8 training room playback.

Meanwhile on the home front, Akemi is getting into the Christmas spirit…

Much to Bubba’s chagrin:

 

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Carl Binder, Dark Matter

December 3, 2015: Dark Matter season 2 prep continues! Goodies galore!

Interrogation room – concept illustrator Sanford Kong

Our old stomping grounds, The Raza!

Hyperion-8 tech room scan via artist Victor Mare.

Reading materials on on tablet via 1st Assistant Art Director Kelly Diamond.  Guess the book!

Meanwhile, the sets are coming along nicely…

Warden Treihan’s office.

Hyperion-8 corridor.

Solitary.

Kudos to the Dark Matter Art and Construction departments.  Al-most there!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

December 2, 2015: Dark Matter Season 2 Playback-in-Progress!

A couple of days ago, I gave you a sneak peek at the graphics-in-progress for our season opener:

https://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2015/11/24/november-24-2015-dark-matter-graphics/

Well, today, I give you these same graphics-in-progress progressed compliments of 1st Assistant Art Director Kelly Diamond with the assist from artist Victor Mare:

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More to come!

 

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

December 1, 2015: We’re going to space jail!

Awwww.  One of the pictures sent in from Mrs. Faversham’s first grade class over at Admiral Farragut Elementary on Torren-5’s third moon.

Prisoners are a resourceful bunch.  And, occasionally, violent.  Arts & Crafts classes offer them a great venue for their hidden talents.

Some of the Do’s and Don’t’s on Hyperion-8.  Missing: “Bathing caps must be worn when entering the prison swimming pool”.

Medical supplies.  Or futuristic pudding containers.  You’ll find out in 2016!

Pharmacological Skittles!

Today, we made Elliot Sokolsky model one of the prison tattoos we’re considering for our opener.  At first, he was all like: “It’s temporary, right?”  And, of course, we were all like: “The temporary ones aren’t as convincing and our viewers demand realism.”  Anyway, it all worked out in the end.  Except for Elliot who we had to let go because the production charter prohibits us from employing individuals with gang designations, even if they are fictitious futuristic gang designations.

Other things we accomplished today: the Episode 201 Art Department meeting, the Episode 201 stunts and SPFX meeting, the Episode 201 wardrobe meeting, more casting, AND I hit the 50 page mark of this script.  Transfer Transit 3.0!

On tap tomorrow: the Episode 201 VFX meeting, the Episode 201 background meeting, the Episode 201 location look-see, the Episode 201 schedule meeting. AND I’ll hopefully complete work on the fifth act of this script.

Hey, check this out.  That jerk THREE is played by a pretty big-hearted Anthony Lemke:

http://eclipsemagazine.com/dark-matter-star-official-ambassador-for-handicap-international-canada/

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 30, 2015: It’s on!

Today was our first official day of prep on Dark Matter’s second season.  Yeeeeah!  Following a props meeting to discuss “the claw”, we all hopped in the van and headed over to our second stage for a tour of the sets-in-progress with Episode 201 director Amanda Tapping.

Check out the pictures above.  What a difference a week makes.

“So future prison like Japanese capsule hotel!” – Akemi.  Yep.

Love the detail that went into the corridors.  Doors are, of course, of the sliding variety.  Floor will be faux-metal similar to what we have on The Raza. 

High angle overviews of the various sets in our new stage.  I envision a James Bond set roof hop sequence somewhere down the line.

As always, it’s the little details that really make a set – and Production Designer Ian Brock is a stickler for details!  Check out this ceiling element that will house an overhead fan in the antechamber outside solitary.

Our first concept meeting went off without a hitch, setting up tomorrow’s festivities:

9:30 : Episode 201 Art Dept / Set Dec Meeting

10:30 : Episode 201 Props Meeting

14:30 : Episode 201 Stunt / SPFX Meeting

15:30 : Episode 201 Wardrobe Meeting

9 days to the commencement of principal photography on Dark Matter’s second season!  You ready?

Whew!  An exhausting day.  It’s so nice to finally be home…

So I can finally get to work on those blue pages for Episode 201 – and, time permitting, make some headway into the fifth act of that other script.

No doubt that, in a few hours from now, I’ll be feeling like these two:

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 29, 2015: Noooooooooo!

Noooooooo!

Nooooooooo!

 (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images) 

Nooooooooooooo!

My Snow Monkeys were trounced in week 12 fantasy football league play, blowing an opportunity to secure a first round bye in the upcoming playoffs.  Relegated to third place following this humiliating loss, my team must win next week AND hope This Ones For John loses in order to avoid a potential first round post-season match-up against either the red hot Tramp Stamps or the Ivon Bartok’s dominant Running Dead.

Sad monkey.

On the bright side, tomorrow, official prep begins on Dark Matter’s second season.  On tap tomorrow – director Amanda Tapping leads the proceedings with:

9:45 – 10:00 : Episode 202 Props Meeting – Re: The Claw

10:00 : Set walk-thru

15:00 : Episode 201 – Concept Meeting

 

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 28, 2015: Dinner at Parcae!

On the recommendation of Montreal radio personality Sarah Bartok (http://www.thebeat925.ca/an/sarah-bartok-1060.html – P.S.: I know her brother!), Akemi and I checked out one of the latest entries on the Toronto restaurant scene: Parcae.  Tucked away in the Templar Hotel, it’s a sexy, dimly lit place offering up “globally inspired, locally-sourced” cuisine.  The plates are delightfully creative.  Chefs Danny Hassell and Joseph Awad bring a mighty impressive resume to the table, with previous kitchen experience at Buca (my favorite Toronto restaurant), Cabana a Sucre Au Pied de Cochon (my favorite Montreal restaurant), and Osteria Francescana (ranked one of the world’s top restaurants and profiled, along with its head chef, Massimo Bottura in my favorite episode of Netflix’s Chef’s Table).

A few of the evening’s culinary highlights:

Nduja ravioli: nduja sausage, stracciatella, basil.

This one packed one nice, fiery punch.

Risotto: sturgeon bone marrow.

A festival of textural contrasts.  Apparently, the sturgeon is braised for some 30 hours before plating.

Lamb brains: deep fried lamb brains, cicoria, mushrooms.

Somewhat reminiscent of KFC – and I mean that in the best possible way.

Clams: clams, guanciale, tomato.

Akemi’s favorite.

Duck ravioli: duck, mascarpone, tomato, olive oil.

My favorite dishes on the menu – the two raviolis.

Octopus and bone marrow: braised octopus, bone marrow.

Definitely a unique take on surf ‘n turf.  The toast was the perfect accompaniment to the marrow.

Some of the other menu highlights not pictured: the romanesco (with guanciale, served with mom’s sauce) and the buttermilk-fried quails.  Have yet to try the branzino (whole European seabags), porter house (20 oz veal bone on porter house served with salsa verde), or tomahawk chop (tomahawk pork chop with cipollini onions).

And, to finish: The pouding chomeur.   Clearly, the Au Pied de Cochon influence was at work here.  One of my very favorite desserts.

Cocktails and service were terrific.

Once we were done, I felt like my french bulldog Lulu after a satisfying meal and drink (see last entry).

PARCAE

348 Adelaide Street West

Inside the Templar Hotel

(416) 398-5335

M-Th 5pm–12pm

F-Sa 5pm–2am

http://www.parcae.ca

Tagged: Parcae, Parcae restaurant, Parcae Toronto