Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 367

December 11, 2015: Dark Matter Episode 201 – Production Day 3!

Got your pass key?  Great!  Welcome to Hyperion-8 Galactic Detention Facility. Please leave your cell phones at the door.

The blue screen view out the hotel room.

Quarters for two of our, uh, “guests”.

An interesting set of doors.  Can’t wait to see them in action.

LBW captures Professor Bartok’s lecture on me mechanics of blue screen magic.

The cells are all lit up and ready to welcome their new occupants.

Modest digs.  The roof service aint much better.

The domed chamber is coming along nicely, but we might need to widen it a little.

Rolling!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, #DarkMatterSeason2, Dark Matter

December 10, 2015: Dark Matter Episode 201 – Production Day #2!

Today, we were back on Hyperion-8, shooting Day 2 of Episode #201.

Moon-base!  Mooooooon-base!  First scene up called for some major reinforcement of the corridor wall to withstand the, uh, “actor action”.  But director Amanda Tapping had it all figured out.

We’re heading this way in the coming days.  Please observe the regulations and mind the lights.

Stand-in Alyssa Pawlak steps in (and up) for…someone a little taller.

We lock up director Bruce McDonald in solitary to give him a real feel for prison life.

The geodesic half-dome forms the upper structure of THIS scary structure.  Please answer in the form of a question.

“The Pen”.  Mind your toes and fingers!

A little something for…someone.

Warden Treihan wardrobe.

Misaki Han wardrobe.

Anthony Lemke drops by the office for his monthly reprimand.

The Episode #202 stunts and SPFX meeting.  This one’s going to be huge.  We’re talking a half-dozen extended action sequences in addition to about a dozen smaller ones.

Stunt coordinator John Stead is going to have his hands full with this episode.

Finally, check out the hair evolution – transforming dark-haired Jodelle into bright-haired FIVE!

Finally finally – Melanie Liburd, Dark Matter’s newest crew-member, Nyx, arrived in Toronto today for her very first costume fitting.  She is LOVELY!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, #DarkMatterSeason2, Dark Matter

December 9, 2015: Production begins on Dark Matter season 2!

I’d set my alarm for 6 a.m. but actually got up a half an hour earlier at 5:30 a.m. Technically, I’d been awake even earlier if you counted the numerous times I woke up to anxiously check my alarm clock between 3 and 4 a.m.  Even earlier still if you counted that 2:00 a.m. text message from Blindspot creator/showrunner Martin Gero wishing me all the best on Dark Matter’s second season.

Because, yes, today was Day #1 of Episode #201 – and, more importantly, the first day of main unit on Dark Matter season 2!

Nope.  Not me driving home late last night.  This was me driving IN early this morning.

I assume this is the place.

Director Amanda Tapping gifts the Dark Matter Whiskey/y Club with a bottle of Hibiki Japanese Harmony.

Not to be confused with the Mallozzi special reserve.

Welcome to the Hyperion-8 Galactic Detention Facility.  Enjoy your stay!

Let’s get this show on the road!

All dressed and ready to go.

Jodelle enjoys a break from prison.  A prison break.

Sound recordist Rachelle is optimistically looking forward to a nice blanket of sound-buffering snow.

Rachelle, Jozie, Nikki, and Deano.

Horseplay on set!

The corridors were quiet today because all the action was in the quarters.

A fantastic first day.  We were all thrilled to have Amanda back in the director’s chair.  Tomorrow: “the confrontation” scene, a hotel room visit, and someone has laundry duty!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, #DarkMatterSeason2, Dark Matter

December 8, 2015: Last day of prep on Dark Matter Episode 201! Snow Monkeys!

Pictured above, director Amanda Tapping and 1st Assistant Director Brandon Tataryn oversee this morning’s production meeting for Episode 201.  Today was the last day of prep for our season 2 premiere as principal photography is scheduled to commence bright and EARLY tomorrow morning in the:

INTERIOR – HYPERION 8 – MINIMUM SECURITY – QUARTERS

While the action unfolds on one side of the stage, director Bruce McDonald will be doing a walkabout of the other sets (10:00 – 11:00) before tomorrow afternoon’s Episode 202 concept meeting.  This may well be our most ambitious episode to date and every department head – and yours truly – will have to bring their A+ game (because, let’s face it, we always bring our A game).  Stunts!  Extras! Dazzling visual effects!

These sets…

…brought to you in part by…

Dark Matter Head Carpenter Craig Tovell.

Check out the final score.  It was actually  A LOT closer than that.  I needed a measly 5 yards from McFadden to secure victory on the final day of the fantasy football regular season.  First carry – fumble!  Minus 2 points!  Despair.  He runs for 20 yards so, by halftime, my deficit was back to a mere 5 yards.  Hope!  He carries early in the second half.  Fumble!  Another 2 points!  And possible concussion!  Deep despair.  But then they announce he is putting his helmet back on.  Hope!  But back-up Robert Turbin assumes RB duties on the next drive. Despair.  But then McFadden comes back in on the next series, the Cowboys drive it down to the goal line, and McFadden gets two consecutive carries.  Hope!  Only to get stuffed and have the Cowboys throw a TD to someone else.  Despair.  On what looks to be their final drive, the Cowboys are forced to kick.  Double despair. And then Desean Jackson fumbles!  Hope!  McFadden rushes – and scores the TD with less than a minute to go, securing the win and a first round bye.

All this to say, this weekend’s first round playoff schedule looks like this:

VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson’s Gainfully-Employed Hyphens (for now) and my Snow Monkeys get the first-round bye and weekend off, leaving Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok’s Running Dead, Orphan Black writer-Supervising Producer Alex Levine’s This Ones For John, Beats by Ray and whalleyBallrz to duke it out for the right to battle us in the semi-finals.

Exciting, no?

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

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