Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 391

March 4, 2015: Introducing Director Ron Murphy! Jay and I duke it out!

The Murph (aka Director Ron Murphy, aka Ronald Murphawski, aka Ronaldine Murphkowtiz-Kardashian III, aka The Earl of Leftwich) is off to a strong start. ��Day #1 of episode #106 is in the books and already I’m hearing words like “great”, “dynamic” and “callypigian”! ��Also phrases like “great energy” and��“killing it!” (which, as it turns out, referred to that big rat they discovered in the props locker. ��But still.).

Pictured above, Ron flanked by Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok and VFX Supervisor ��Lawren Bancroft-Wilson. ��I look forward to comparing this cheery, uber-positive BEFORE production pic with the inevitable weary, rage-fueled AFTER pic.

Ron and Script Supervisor Matti Huhta manning the monitors.

Ron directing the scene.

Ron directing the actors.

Ron directing the actors.

Ron directing me to take this picture for my blog.

I spent the early morning on main unit with Ron, Ivon, Lawren, Matti and the gang, then headed over to the production offices where I engaged Executive Producer Jay Firestone in a heated debate on a scene from the episode #103 edit, drove over to post where I finished my producer’s edit of episode #104, drove back to the production offices for the episode #107 concept meeting, resumed my heated debate with Jay on that scene from the episode #103 edit, headed downstairs to watch John Stead direct second unit, then headed back upstairs to continue my heated debate with Jay.

In a nutshell, it all came down to a single shot from the tease. ��I though it was funnier one way; he preferred it another way. ��I suppose if I’d been dealing with any other producer, I’d have probably been thrown out of his office. ��But instead, Jay elected to go with the democratic approach. ��He went on a tour of production offices, screening the two versions for a half dozen people, and letting the audience decide.

The majority chose his version so, in the end, it was tough to critique his take. ��On the other hand, it WAS easy to criticize my co-workers’ heinous tastes.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

March 3, 2015: Things are about to get crazy. Er.

I was up into the wee hours of this morning, watching and preparing notes for the director’s cut of episode #104 – and writing a scene for this week’s schedule. ��And it looks like I’ll be up into the wee hours of tomorrow morning, watching and preparing notes for the prod cut of episode #103 – and writing another scene for this week’s schedule. ��Hopefully not overly wee as I have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow to get in for 7:00 a.m. call. ��We’ve got TWO units rolling tomorrow! ��In addition to the afternoon concept meeting for episode #107 with director Bruce McDonald. ��The rewrite on #107 and #108. ��Finishing up my cut of #104. ��And, oh yeah, continuing work on the script for the season finale.

To those of you asking – No, you didn’t miss the big casting news I hinted at last week. ��Rather than post the news on this blog, I decided to go through proper channels first. ��Now some of you may wonder: What’s the difference between just making an unofficial announcement and going through those official channels? ��Well, last time I checked, about three weeks and counting.

They served up cupcakes for our production meeting yesterday. ��Check out the cake to icing ratio!

And a treat of another sort compliments of director Ron Murphy who kicks things off with Day #1 of episode #107 tomorrow! ��One tasty whisky, served up in line producer Norman Denver’s special Hungarian sipping glasses.

And the ranks of our whisky club continue to grow. ��We’re like Fight Club, but with a lot less fighting and more glasses to clean.

Finally, I came across this curio gathering dust in Executive Producer Jay Firestone’s office. ��For the man who has everything:

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

March 2, 2015: Lee Rose! Caitlin’s new do! The #104 director’s cut! And socks!

Director Lee Rose calling the shots on the ISS Far Horizon.

Hey, with all this talk about socks of late, I’ve really been remiss in not displaying actress Jodelle Ferland’s unique sock sense – on display at last night’s Walking Dead soiree:

Speaking of socks. Natalie informs me I’ve also been remiss in not posting the recent pair she sported for this blog’s Sock of the Day ongoing feature. ��Voila!

She’s particularly proud of those anthropomorphic pants.

Well, well, well. ��Look at who got a haircut…

Caitlin Brown (Executive in Charge of Business Affairs AND Development) sports her new do. ��She’s been doing something new with her hair. ��And I LOVE IT!

Whoowhee! ��Big night ahead as I’ve got Amanda Tapping’s director’s cut of episode #104 to watch and give notes on ahead of a visit to editor Paul Day tomorrow morning!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

March 1, 2015: Zombies, script work, and guns!

I came across the above in the production offices this week. ��Just in time for my weekly Walking Dead night. ��This week, we were joined by my writing partner, Paul, who never watched an episode of the show before – and promised to keep his mouth shut during the telecast.

Well, I finally made some progress on our season finale, episode #113. ��As so often happens, I’ll agonize over those first half dozen scenes, writing and rewriting them, spending weeks tweaking the dialogue, at which point I’ll become so frustrated��that I’ll just push through the script, doubling my output in a single day. ��What I’ll have, of course, I’ll hate but, after more rewrites and tweaks, it’ll grow on me. ��I’m out of Act I and into Act II. ��Top of page 21!

Pictured above: When the restaurant hostess walks over and affixes THIS to the neighboring table, that’s your cue to hurry up, finish your meal and get the hell out.

Oh, hey, another hello to all of the new readers to this blog who have stumbled upon us seeking information about��Dark Matter, Stargate, or a recipe for crispy chicken skin

(right here:��https://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/january-16-2013-kitchen-adventures/. ��No. ��For reals!)

Welcome! ��Things are going to get a whole lot more interesting on this blog in the lead up to our summer premiere.

Finally, another interesting flyer I noticed in the production offices last week. ��Hmmm. ��There’s gotta be a better way to unload those weapons…

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

February 28 2015: Cold potato, socks, and my date with Cloverblob!

Well look at who I came across this morning at the Farmer’s Market. ��None other than my favorite fellow foodie Natalie Cooper, aka Batman, aka The Sock Girl! ��She informed me that she had been trying to convince her mom to join her for the special tasting menu at a local high-end Mexican restaurant. ��I, of course, strongly urged her to drop her mom like a hot potato –��in favor of a nice cold potato (yours truly!). ��So, mom’s out. ����A comer!

Speaking of Natalie, I’ve fallen behind in this blog’s semi-regular Sock of the Day feature. ��Pictured above: Friday’s instalment. ��As someone who hasn’t taken a math class since grade 10, I really appreciate this one.

And, while we’re on the subject, these Halloween-themed socks arrived in the mail the other day compliments of – I think because there was no accompanying message – Sylvia. ��Thanks, Sylvia! ��I think.

The other day, somebody asked me why I didn’t respond to comments on twitter. ��Well, the truth is my online presence is pretty much confined to this blog which, going on eight years now without missing a day, is enough. ��I use only use twitter to keep updated on @DRUNKHULK, while Facebook is reserved solely for sharing lost dog posts.

Yes, to those asking, today was my zoo date with Cloverblob -

https://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/february-24-2015-cloverblob/

So, how was it? ��Well, let me post this screen grab of the text I just sent Zoie:

February 27, 2015: Introducing our new Dark Matter consulting producer!

Between prep, production, and post, I hardly have time for anything else. ��Hell, I hardly have time for prep, production, and post. ��If I’m prepping an episode, I can’t be on set. ��If I’m on set, I can’t be in editing. ��And if I’m in editing, I can’t be in prep. ��So what’s an Executive Producer to do? ��Well, if you know someone with production experience (producing AND directing) and that someone shares your script sensibilities, then you hire them to set sit for you. ��Which is exactly what we did.

Introducing new Dark Matter consulting producer Ivon Bartok who will be overseeing production of episodes #106 through #109. His duties will include script consultations, shot surveillance, and the putting out of fires both literal and figurative. ��But especially literal.

First order of business after taking the grand tour of the sets and meeting the DM gang was Ivon’s induction into our whisky club. ��From left to right: Norman Denver, Trevor Finn, Jay Firestone (sipping tea instead), Ivon Bartok (breeching etiquette by foregoing the toast and getting right to it), Brandon Tataryn, and director Ron Murphy. ��Not pictured: me.

We were actually drinking 18 year old Bunnahabhain, but I’d love to try this 250 year old Glenmercury spaceside single malt.

Tone meeting today for episode #106 and parts of #109 with director Ron Murphy. Next week, Ivon acts as my representative to the tech survey heading to Kitchener early Monday morning. ��Then, on Tuesday, we’re going ATV’ing. ��No, seriously. ��The area we’ll be scouting for #109 is only accessible by ATV. ��Wish me luck!

It’s official. ��He got his parking pass. ��He’s one of us now!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

February 26, 2015: Top 15 Strange But Familiar Fast Food Menu Items I’d Like To Try!

Whenever I visit a foreign country, I always like to check out the local fast food eateries for a taste of the strange yet familiar. ��For instance, last time I was in Japan, I went to McDonalds and had a hamburger – but not your run-of-the-mill hamburger. ��I had a Kuro Burger: a beef patty served between two black buns, topped with black cheese, bamboo charcoal, and squid ink ketchup. ��Overall, it was a resounding 5/10 on the burger scale. ��But the experience? ��Well, that was a 10/10!

Japanese McDonalds can always be counted upon to deliver some mighty unique menu items. ��I’m never disappointed. ��That being said, I AM disappointed in some of the menu items available at familiar fast food joints around the world – only insofar as I can’t get my hands on them.

Here are my Top 15 Strange But Familiar Fast Food Menu Items I’d Like To Try!

15. Burger King Chili Cheese Nuggets: Deep-fried cheese with fiery hot japalenos. (available: Austria)

14. McItaly Adagio Burger: Beef patty topped with eggplant mousse, ricotta salata, and tomatoes served in an almond topped bun (available: Italy)

13. Mcdonalds Le Poulet-Curry: Breaded chicken, potato pancakes, lettuce, and curry served on a mini baguette (available: France)

12. McRice Burger: Beef or chicken patties topped with lettuce, mayo, and Asian barbecue sauce served on crispy rice buns (available: Singapore)

11. McDonalds Ebi Filet: Fried shrimp patty with special sauce and lettuce (available: Japan)

10. McAloo Tikki Burger: Potato and chickpea patty with tomatoes, onions, and tomato mayonnaise (available: India)

9. Burger King Pumpkin Burger: Beef patty topped with fried kabocha squash, bacon, lettuce, and a creamy nut sauce (available: Japan)

8. McDonalds P’tit Beldi: Spiced halal meat, tomatoes, lettuce, and mayo (available: Morocco)

7. McPollo Italiano: Fried chicken patty topped with tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and guacamole (available: Chile)

6. McDonalds Bacon Roll: Bacon and ketchup on a hard roll (available: The U.K.)

5. McIberica: Beef patty topped with Iberico Ham, manchego cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and olive oil (available: Spain)

4. The McArabia: Grilled kofta patties, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and tahini served in flatbread (available: Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia)

3. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Jalapeno Bulgogi Hot Dog: Marinated beef slices with jalape��os, melted cheese, and barbecue sauce ��(available: South Korea)

2. McSpicy Paneer: Fried paneer cheese patty topped with lettuce, red cabbage, and tandoori sauce (available: India)

1. Burger King X-Tra Long Chili Cheese Burger: Three beef patties, cheese and jalapenos (available: Austria, Germany, Netherlands)

February 25, 2015: Dark Matter! Prep! Production! Pics!

Toronto has been very Hoth-like of late, so I suppose I shouldn’t have been all that surprised to come across the above in the lunch room today. ��Could’ve used that nice warm lightsaber while we were shooting in Hamilton last month!

Morning meetings today for episode #106 with director Ron Murphy (or “Murph” as he is affectionately referred to by members of the crew). ��This one’s going to be an acting tour de force for Jodelle Ferland (FIVE) who’ll be spending the next couple of weekends in training with our stunt coordinator, John Stead, preparing for her very demanding fight sequences.

The trench!

The gun lock-up!

The infirmary!

Hey, check out a recent interview I did with Joe Julians at Idiotbox.com:

http://www.idiotbox.co.uk/joseph-mallozzi-dark-matter-interview-33747/

“IB: We do have many further Stargate questions we would love to ask at some point but we really want to talk about Dark Matter. First up the obvious question, where did the idea from the show come from?

JM: I���ve always been fascinated by the idea of redemption and wanted to create a show that explored this theme. I wanted it to include elements I���d always been drawn to in the movies, t.v. shows, and books I enjoyed: a team dynamic, a sense of adventure, humor, and a serialized narrative offering continuous set-ups and pay-offs, twists, turns, and surprises. I wanted the pilot, our opening episode, to end on a WTF?! moment that would have viewers counting down the hours to the following week���s episode and so I actually reverse-engineered the original pilot script from its final scene. As we developed the show���s first season, we were always cognizant of working toward those Holy Crap!/WTF?! moments that would cap each episode. And, I���m happy to say, there are some amazing ones to look forward to in season one.”

We talk Dark Matter, Stargate, favorites and, of course, Nathan Fillion.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

February 24, 2015: Cloverblob!

So there I was the other day, minding my own business, when I received the following message on twitter:

Hunh? ��Who, I wondered, is zoiepalmer’s cat? ��Well, I did a little research and, as it turns out, zoiepalmer’s cat IS Zoie Palmer’s cat, Cloverblob, who apparently has her own twitter account. ��Hoping to avoid any potential conflict, I wrote back:

And I left it at that. ��But upon further reflection, I thought it best to mention the incident to Zoie. ��I approached her yesterday while she was waiting to shoot her first scene of the day and, unsure as to how best to break it to her, I just blurted out: “I don’t know how to tell you this but I think your cat is harassing me on twitter.” ��I’m not sure what kind of a response I was expecting. ��Shock. ��Sadness. ��Maybe an apology. ��Instead, Zoie nodded knowingly, “Oh, yeah”, and made it clear Cloverblob was out of her control. ��Immediately realizing my mistake, I requested she not mention our conversation to her cat when she got home that night but Zoie gave a shake of her head and informed me: “Oh, she’ll find out somehow.”

I assumed she was kidding but, only an hour later, I received the following tweet:

I, of course, scrambled to do damage control. ��After all, the only thing worse than an angry cat is a vengeful angry cat:

 

I didn’t receive any further messages from Cloverblob so I figured the entire incident had been put to rest. ��And then I received a panicked text message from Zoie. ��Our correspondence follows:

So Zoie put in a good word for me and, in the end, we got things sorted out. ��Kind of. ��This Saturday afternoon, I’ve got a date with Cloverblob to go visit the hippo exhibit at the zoo. ��I wasn’t prepared for a long term commitment though and Zoie’s last text has me kind of concerned:

Wait. ��Wait! ��WHAT?!

https://twitter.com/Cloverblob

Tagged: Cloverblob

February 23, 2015: Production madness!

It feels like mere weeks ago I was planning our trip to Toronto to work start work on��Dark Matter. ��I’d been developing the series for so long, impatiently awaiting its green light, that when we finally received word we had a go, I couldn’t quite believe it. ��And back in the summer of 2014 when we were gearing up to assemble the season one writer’s room (all three of us!), production felt like such a long way off. ��Even in December, after the construction had commenced on our standing sets and we had 10 of our 13 episodes scripted, it still felt distantly surreal. ��And now…

We’re locking Dark Matter��episodes #101 and #102 (directed by T.J. Scott) and I’m editing episode #103 (directed by Paolo Barzman). ��The editors are working on their assembly of episode #104, directed by Amanda Tapping. ��Director Lee Rose is presently shooting episode #105 and I’m in prep on episode #106 with director Ron Murphy. ��We’re almost at the halfway mark! ��Holy crap! ��Never mind the season finale. ��I’ve got to start thinking about season two!

Episode #112 came out today and, hopefully, that will tide the cast and crew over until I’ve had a chance to write #113, the shocking season finale. ��I’m seven pages in. ��At this rate, I should be done by the time it comes time to shoot it in May.

Last night, I took a break from the madness for our weekly Walking Dead Night attended by VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson, Akemi, Jodelle Ferland, Roger Cross, and yours truly. ��Our new consulting producer (who arrives on Wednesday) enjoys the show as well and will no doubt be joining us for next week’s instalment.

Meanwhile, thousands of light years away, the final stragglers (Kyle, Alison, and Trevor) await the transport vessel that will ferry them from Shaofu 2 back to Earth.

Sock of the Day! ��Sock of the Day!

What official announcement? ��Oh, THAT official announcement. ��Apparently, it had to run through one more proper channel and then all should be good to go.

Oh, and regarding my hint of last week – his CHARACTER (singular) has appeared in all three Stargate shows – narrows it down to only four possibilities I can think of.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.