Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 370

November 12, 2015: Scripts are out! Props are primed! And Lulu is bummed!

Two down(ish); eleven to go!  If all goes as planned, Jodelle and co. should have two more scripts (Episodes #203 and #204) to curl up with next weekend.

Victoria came by this morning for her regular 10 a.m. props show-and-tell.  We discussed variations of these…

…and these…

Trust me, when the episode airs, you won’t even recognize them.

A meeting with the Art Department today as well in which we discussed the myriad builds for our opener.  It’s gonna be HUUUUGE!  Next Tuesday, we’ll be taking a tour of the sets-in-progress.  Who’s coming?!

Speaking of our Art Department, I received an email today from Production Designer Ian Brock that made me smile.  Not that his emailed suggestions, sketches, and concept art don’t ALWAYS bring me great joy – it’s just that, on this occasion, he already had me at the heading:

Shuttle, puddle jumper – tomato, tomahto.

Akemi suspects Lulu is depressed.  Does she look depressed to you?  A little despondent?  A tad melancholy?

I mentioned this a while ago.  Ever since Jelly passed, she’s been unusually quiet; less playful and clingy.  Every morning, she’ll crawl up into my arms and fall asleep until it’s time to wake up.  Apparently, she spends most of the day curled up in her dog bed – a far cry from the days when she used to drive everyone nuts by continually chasing her toys through the house.

I’m thinking I may bring her in to work with me tomorrow; see if some daddy-daughter time cheers her up.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 11, 2015: Costumes and Canines!

Last year, whenever I went down to the costume department, I’d notice the dog pictures lining the far wall – funny photos of pooches dressed up as samurai or miners, running a science experiment or playing cards.  A new one would go up, roughly once a week, and I didn’t think anything of it until I took a closer look and realized there was a method to the mutty madness.  Each dog photo was thematically on point!  Samurai Dog = Episode 109.  Miner Dog = Episode 102. Mad Scientist Dog = Episode 111.  Card Playing Dog = Episode 1o4,  Suddenly, it all made sense!

And so, I was delighted to see the tradition continue this year with a brand new picture to kick off the new season.  Pictured above is our Episode 201-themed dog photo.  Teaser alert!

(Last season’s dog pic rundown: https://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2015/08/23/august-23-2015-the-dog-days-of-dark-matter/)

The impeccably dressed Noreen Landry calls the clothing shots!

Today, we had our very first wardrobe meeting of the young season.  Costume Designer Noreen Landry was fairly bursting with great new ideas.  And also quick to remind me of a few of the things I promised her back in season one in the event we did get a second season pick-up.  In no particular order: hats, more color, and aliens!

My aversion to hats stems from my experience working with the great Peter DeLuise, an enormously talented director who positively HATED onscreen headwear.  I remember watching dailies once and bursting out laughing at the sight of one of our leads, undercover as a simple villager, wearing a silly hat.  “You see!”shouted Peter, following up with a sad shake of his head.  “Now it’s a scene about a hat!”

Also in attendance and back into the swing of things was Assistant Costume Designer Anna Dal Farra.

And Unit Manager Robbie David who is on hand to act as my bodyguard in the event things turn ugly for me.

A very early version of our Hyperion-8 prison guard uniforms.

This one doesn’t belong on this particular uniform but it’s something I’ve never noticed before – the Ferrous Corp insignia!

Infirmary-wear for Devon.

Today’s blog entry is dedicated to the memories of our military veterans.

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

November 10, 2015: Let’s get this show on the road! Eventually, when we go out to shoot on location.

Huzzah!  Looks like we’re making a t.v. show after all!  Today, after a morning spent writing and perusing potential casting options, I attended my very first concept meeting of this young season.  Well, okay, it was more of a pre-concept meeting.  In attendance were all of the department heads, line producer Norman Denver, Executive Producer Vanessa Piazza, and joining us via conference from rainy Vancouver, EP Paul Mullie.  1st Assistant Director Brandon Tataryn (Tataryn’s Disease: A disorder common on planets where Serillium is mined, a result of the run-off from refineries leaching into the water supply. In its advanced state, the disease causes rapid decline in specific neurological motor function related to autonomic life-support. There’s no known cure.  How’s that for a coincidence!) oversaw the action.  Topics of discussion included smoke blasts, lasers, black lights, force fields, tablets, shivs, prison gruel, and the sim yard.

***

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 9, 2015: Official prep begins on Dark Matter season 2!

Uh oh.  Actual real bonafide official prep on Dark Matter’s second season kicks off tomorrow with not one, not two, but THREE big meetings!  First up is our pre-concept meeting during which all the department heads will gather to discuss what they did on hiatus.  And then talk about what’s needed for our first couple of episodes – sets, costumes, props, etc.  We’ll follow that with a general review meeting that will involve generally reviewing everything – which, quite honestly, sounds a lot like what the pre-concept meeting should be.  We’ll end our day with a season 2 budget overview which will give line producer Norman Denver the opportunity to beat us up over our high-flying, awesome set-building, special guest star booking, VFX-ladening ways.

Meanwhile, up to my eyeballs in script work – writing, re-writing, and re-re-writing. I’m hoping to have drafts of at least 9 of our 13 scripts by the time we go to camera December 9th (confirm the date for me, willya?).  We’ll shoot our first episode before the holiday break, then streak through the final 12 when we return, all rested and relaxed and full of eggnog.  My former Stargate associate, the awesome Amanda Tapping, will take the director’s chair for Episode #201. Exciting, no?

A couple of Dark Matter-related links.  Yep, people are still talking about our first season – no doubt because it’s available on U.S. Netflix.  Tell your friends!

Is Dark Matter worth watching?  Dani Wood says…well, I don’t want to give it away.  Just read the article.

http://www.tv.com/shows/dark-matter/community/post/is-syfys-dark-matter-a-space-opera-worth-watching–1447079438/

This reviewer compares the show to an awesome Aussie bacon sandwich! Yeaaaah!  Next season, we’re adding awesomely figurative melted cheese and caramelized onions!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwvsgrJO09I

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 8, 2015: Embarrassing But True!

Embarrassing things most people don’t know about me but I’m telling you now because, well, you’re my friends.  Also, I’m not sure what else to write about for today’s blog entry.

I sing to my dogs.  A lot.  I have a whole repertoire of original compositions including such favorites as The Apple Dumpling Gang (“The Apple Dumpling Gang! The Apple Dumpling Gang!  Who’s a member of the Apple Dumpling Gang?!” – sung while giving them their apple dumpling-flavored treats), Eat Time (“Eat time! Eat time!  Who are the dogs who’ll come for eat time?  Eat time!  Eat time!  Etc.” – sung when breakfast or dinner is served), and The PooPoo PeePee Song (which really needs no explanation).  I would, on occasion, serenade my late pug Jelly with Let Me Call You Sweetheart while rubbing her ears, a rare foray into non-original material.

I played the clarinet.  Badly.  In high school.  I was third clarinet which means the back-up to the back-up.  Should some horrible fate had befallen the first clarinet on the day of our recital, I would have been called upon to be on standby lest the second clarinet was unable to perform his or her duties.  That never happened. After a while, our music teacher, Doc, decided it might be best if I tried my hand (and lips) at the french horn.  This was a clear step down from the trumpet, which is the instrument I originally played before being demoted to clarinet.  I was reluctant, mainly because the clarinet was so much easier to lug around.  “I’m actually better when I’m playing with the others,”was my defense.  “No,”whispered Doc, gently disabusing me of the notion that I’d be taking the clarinet home with me that night. “You’re not good.”  And so I switched to the french horn.  For two weeks.  And then switched to shop class.

I’ve watched every episode of Sex and the City – and enjoyed it.  My ex and Akemi are huge fans of the show and would watch the dvd’s constantly.  Whenever I was in the kitchen, they’d be on in the background, playing in what felt like constant background loops.  At first it was annoying, then ignorable, eventually interesting and, finally, great!  I still can’t believe Carrie would choose Big over Aiden!

Once, when I was a kid at summer camp, I ate five ice cream sandwiches in one sitting, got violently ill, and didn’t eat another ice cream sandwich for years.

Once, when I was an adult at a dinner party I was hosting, I sampled thirteen different flavors of the home made ice cream I made, got violently ill, and didn’t make ice cream again for years.

Also, there’s this picture:

November 7, 2015: Memories of Dark Matter’s first season!

These take me back…

Line Producer Norman Denver at the controls.  As usual.

The initial version of the Corporate Guard uniforms.  Deemed a little too colorful.

We ended up going with basic black.  Always stylishly nefarious.

The Android’s severed hand was a realer than real-looking synthetic duplicate of actress Zoie Palmer’s actual hand, painted, textured and weighted to perfection. Alternately amazing and creepy.

Alex Mallari Jr. runs through his very first sword choreography with second unit director John Stead.

I went shopping with Akemi today.  At one point, she stepped out of the changing room and modeled a potential new purpose.  “Love the top,”I said, “but don’t like the pants.  They’re a little too big and frumpy.”

She frowned.  “They’re my pants.”

Oh.  Upon further consideration, they looked great!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 6, 2015: Behind the scenes on Dark Matter season 1 – and a sneak peek at what’s to come!

Check out Warden Treihan’s sweet office courtesy of concept illustrator Sanford Kong and production designer Ian Brock.  Talk about a room with a view!

Hey, here’s another director that will be making a return appearance in the show’s second year…

Andy Mikita: The last time I worked with Andy, he directed two of Dark Matter’s most talked-about episodes: 112 (featuring TWO’s backstory) and 113 (our shocking season finale). How’s he going to outdo that duo? Well, I’m looking forward to finding out!

Dark Matter season one memories…

Executive Producer Jay Firestone, 1st Assistant A.D. Brandon Tataryn (who had a disease named after him in Episode #107), and Executive Producer Paul Mullie walk the set one final time before the Christmas break.

The “big metal doors” go up!

Director of Photography Craig Wright and VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson check out the in-progress bridge of The Raza.

The “big metal doors” looking significantly more metal.

Production Designer Ian Brock surveys the work on one our stasis pods.

The “big metal doors”, camera-ready.

The bridge of The Raza – coming along.

The etching on Ryo Ishida’s/FOUR’s sword and scabbard.

Visual Effects Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson prepares to drive his point home.

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 5, 2015: Monstress! The Cornell Collective! Snow Monkeys! Hyperion-8!

My Recommended Read of the Week: Monstress #1 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda.  An amazing book, beautifully illustrated by Sana Takeda, and beautifully written by New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu (who also happens to be a Lost Girl fan, Lost Girl fans!).

Hey, check out the latest podcast of The Cornell Collective (https://t.co/PHhaZh7ocD).  Artist Emma Vieceli, authors Paul Cornell, Lou Anders, and yours truly discuss everything from inspirations, origin stories, and embarrassing professional faux-pas.

This is no doubt old news to you, but my Snow Monkeys have moved into second place following last week’s trouncing of Dark Matter Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok’s Running Dead.  This week, we’ll be laying a licking on Robert Cooper’s cellar-dwelling Moprah WinFree!

Today, I leave you with the revised Hyperion-8 lunar base, compliments of Concept Illustrator Sanford Kong, Production Designer Ian Brock, and the rest of the Art Department gang.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Monstress, The Cornell Collective

November 4, 2015: Dark Matter season 2 prep! The gang at work!

You know what I enjoy doing while working on a new script?  Anything BUT writing. I’ll go for a stroll, research, check out the kitchen, re-watch auditions and, occasionally, head downstairs and see what the gang is up to…

Dark Matter Production Designer Ian Brock considers space toilets.  It’s the little things…

Research is key!  Prop Master Victoria Klein tests the prison food (and cutlery!) on Props Buyer Susan Woorts.

The individual cells are coming along.  Doesn’t that bunk look comfy?

Back on Stargate, Executive Producer Robert Cooper would always stress the importance of ceilings and floor.   It’s something that has always stayed with me and that I’ve carried through into Dark Matter.  Pictured above, some options courtesy of the Art Department.  I think we all prefer the Modern Masters Pewter (lower left) for our Super Max.

Hey!  It’s Set Designer Doug Slater, MacGyvering a quick treatment for a severed ear.  No time for hospitals.  Staples and super glue work just fine.  Now back to work, Doug!

Hey, it’s The Raza – minus a gun turret (a casualty of San Diego Comic con).

See, THIS is why that 3D printer was such a great investment.  First a model of Dark Matter’s badass ship, next –

Your very own Joseph Mallozzi action figure in its original stasis pod packaging.  Mint condition!  What’s my first bid?

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter

November 3, 2015: Dark Matter season 2 sneak peek! Moon Base Hyperion-8!

In addition to the Art Department, our crack VFX crew is going to have their hands full as well heading into prep on Dark Matter’s second season.  I’ve already offered up sneak peeks at some of our Maximum Security Detention Facility Hyperion-8 interiors.  Today, I offer you a sneak peek at Hyperion-8’s exterior.

It’s an escape-proof prison not only because of the way it was designed, and the security measures in place, but because of it’s location.  In the unlikely event prisoners actually manage to escape the grounds, they won’t be getting very far.  Not without a spacesuit.

And a lift.

Early concept art compliments of the Art Department gang.  They spoil us!

The only thing missing here is the City of Atlantis (http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/scifi/stargate-atlantis-sixth-season-included-moon-base-time-travel.html).

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter