Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 391

April 16, 2015: Scenes from the set of Dark Matter!

Another day, another off-ship location. ��This one a little harder to get into than your average space station.

What’s in the big weird box?

On Set Key Props��Lisa Amaral Wright shows off another mystery box – with some inspired gak.

Anthony Lemke (Dark Matter‘s THREE) rolls in from his second job as a refrigerator repairman.

Funnyman Ennis Esmer (Dark Matter‘s Wexler) looking his nefarious best.

Repairman/actor Marc Bendavid (Dark Matter‘s ONE) takes a break from cleaning the condenser coils.

Key Make-Up,��Lynda McCormack, is all smiles – as usual. ��The hair and make-up trailer is so relaxed, I think I’m just going to live in it next year and forego the apartment.

Script Supervisor��Matti Huhta listens carefully to ensure the cast delivers every word of our precious dialogue.

On Set Dresser Jean��Brophey sports a custom made Dark Matter cap (actually, just a former��Lost Girl��baseball cap with the name of the new show taped over top).

Executive Producer Vanessa Piazza cracks the whip. ��And enjoys the coffee.

Key Hair��Ren��e Chan gets creative doing Torri Higginson’s hair.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

April 15, 2015: Let the creepy black-masked paramilitary soldier be your muse! Elliot’s birthday bash!

This picture has been sitting on the back wall of Dark Matter Costume Designer Noreen Landry’s office since the beginning of the season. ��It’s not uncommon for her to tack up visual inspirations, but somewhat unusual for it to be something so nefarious looking. ��Every time I visit wardrobe, my eyes always gravitate to this pic of the ballistic mask worn by the Taiwanese Special Forces and I think: “There’s got to be a way to work this look into the show.”

Well, finally, after five long months, I think we’ve found a way. ��You can expect something like this group to be marching into your living room this summer…

��Minus the kneepads.

By the way, before I forget, here’s your digital access card to the SVRF (Sweater Vest Research Facility). ��Don’t lose it!

Today, we celebrated Elliot Sokolsky’s birthday in fine style, with whisky and whiskey! ��We carted out half the collection and he had his choice – finishing the Oban.

Then, it was time for the gifts – presented in this stylish carrying bag for fans of some guy the gals in the office described as “The Australian Justin Bieber”.

And inside – more whisky! ��And a salacious magazine detailing the faux erotic goings-on behind-the-scenes of Fifty Shades of Grey. ��Get it? ��The guy’s name is Grey! ��Christian Grey! ��And he seduces fifty women at a reunion concert of the 80’s soul band Sade.

Tomorrow, I’m off to Hamilton for a morning of fun in the sun. ��And Torri Higginson!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

April 14, 2015: My girl! And my show!

My sweetheart seems to be feeling under the weather tonight. ��No, my OTHER sweetheart. ��Well, technically, my first sweetheart. ��At 16 years, Jelly is my longest relationship. ��She’s getting a bit fussy in her old age, more demanding, less inclined to suffer fools (mainly my other pug, Bubba), but I think that just makes her more lovable. ��She’s a daddy’s girl. ��Despite her bad hips, arthritic joints, deafness, and weak eyesight, she always greets me with an enthusiastic fervor usually reserved for pan-fried chicken hearts. ��Tonight, not so much. ��Not sure what’s up. ��Maybe she’s got a lot on her mind…

Did you see the Dark Matter��teaser trailer? ��78k+ views in four days! ��Did you share it with your friends? ��Your family? ��Complete strangers? ��Did you get it out to other SF enthusiasts? ��Maybe William Shatner and Wil Wheaton are looking for a new scifi series to get hooked on?

Well, just in case, here’s the link: ��https://youtu.be/1TqwBlTQfTg

I guarantee, this show will be more addictive than those honey and tabasco roasted pecans I made last year.

Two units shooting today on our standing sets. ��While John Stead was directing the action on the bridge and the infirmary, Ron Murphy was directing the action in the training room and various quarters. ��Scenes from four different episodes were on the docket today. ��Meanwhile, Director Martin Wood was busy prepping episode #111, while Director Andy Mikta was prepping episode #112.

John Stead directs Marc Bendavid (ONE). ��Crew blocking.

I spent most of the day agonizing over and, ultimately, writing two new scenes for episode #112. ��Tomorrow, I kick things off with a soundscape meeting (deciding on all the awesome ship tones), then head to the production offices for a pre-VFX Visual Effects meeting – again for episode #112 (It’s a big one!). ��I’ll while away the afternoon in my office, writing the two new scenes for #110.

Kyle models the soon-to-be space suit.

Amid all of the prepping, producing, writing, and editing, I have managed to get some time off. ��For eating and sleeping, mostly, but also to check out a couple of horror movies with good buzz…

A simple but creepily effective and, ultimately, unnerving horror film. ��I’m not sure what was more unsettling: the babadook or that annoying kid.

A small, independent film with a great premise and a lot of good scares. ��Eerie.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., SF television, SyFy Fridays, television production

April 13, 2015: A final Dark Matter location scout! And one more Thank You!

I spent most of today out and about, checking out possible locations for our last few episodes. ��We were on the lookout for: a high-tech facility, cool corridors and stairwells, operating theaters, a dining room, and a field emitter room…

This chamber offers a great-looking entrance and exit – when it’s not being used to wash hospital gurneys.

Line Producer Norman Denver and Production Designer Ian Brock kick back between autopsies.

See if we can switch out that thing in the middle for a power saw. ��We’ve got a tough nut to crack.

1st A.D. Brandon Tataryn finds his light.

Suitably creepy corridor. ��Could you imagine it, just a little bit dimmer – with some unfathomable creature crawling toward you from the other end? ��Yes?

To be honest, I’d try my luck in the creepy corridor with the crawling creature before I’d brave this catwalk.

“I’ve never seen a group��so excited about a stairwell before.” – Guy who was giving us the tour of the place.

Director Andy Mikita in prep.

When the alarm that sounds like an air raid siren sounds, please put these one.

Interesting architecture. ��Potential HQ of Dwarf Star Technologies?

Ian invites you to share a seat with him on the hallucinogenic carpet.

Tomorrow, we follow up with a location photo look-see. ��And then, I’ve got to write that Android(s) scene!

In yesterday’s blog entry, I thanked all of the people who helped make��Dark Matter��a reality. ��BUT, I forgot one important supporter. ��Thankfully, longtime blog reader Ponytail reminded me…

���Joe you forgot one person behind your success���the one who keeps the home fires burning, offering endless support, taking care of the kids, a culinary expert, flying companion and dog escort, a constant source of amusement and delight, beautiful partner, perfect distraction from job stresses, ideal Tokyo sidekick and personal translator, equally talented with endless energy, and beloved by all. Where would you be without Akemi.���

…and reduced Akemi to tears.

So, yes. ��A special thanks to my awesome girlfriend who takes care of business on the home front while I’m away…

…and also sends me off every morning with these awesome bento box lunches.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., television production

April 12, 2015: Dark Matter – A 7+ year journey!

I was actually developing��Dark Matter��as far back as 2007. ��That year comes to mind because, in 2007, we were producing Stargate: Atlantis’s��fourth season and I remember walking the corridors of the ship we constructed for episode #405,��Travelers, and saying to Paul: “We’ve got to find a way to keep these sets. They’d be perfect for Dark Matter!” ��In retrospect, it was probably a good thing we didn’t hold on to those sets. ��The storage costs over seven years would have no doubt eclipsed the price tag of our spanking new sets.

The nice thing about waiting seven years for your show to get green lit is that it gives you plenty of time to develop the hell out of it. ��Characters, their journeys, seasonal and series arcs – you’d be surprised how much you can flesh out over the course of 84+ months.

With a more than fully fleshed out show on our hands, ��the plan was to roll right into��Dark Matter��if and when Stargate ever ended. ��I’d been preparing myself for Stargate’s eventual end since Stargate: SG-1’s fifth season, back in early 2000, so I’d grown inured to the dread of cancellation. ��As a result, when the end did come, and Stargate: Universe was cancelled in 2011, I was taken by surprise. ��I wasn’t ready!

This business is funny sometimes. ��Given the fact that Brad Wright and Robert Cooper had effectively established MGM’s t.v. division and made the studio TONS of money with Stargate, I imagined they be set. ��A studio deal. ��A couple of blind pilots. ��Offers to use their years of experience to help shepherd or run whatever other productions the studio had in the pipeline. ��No? ��A letter of reference? �� A hearty handshake? ��A “Thanks for multi millions?” scribbled on a post-it?

If they weren’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for the guys that had earned them enough cash to purchase a tiny country (something modest with a lot of beachfront property), I figured my chances were…slimmer…

“I’m sorry. ��What department did you say you used to work in?”

“Uh, television. ��A t.v. show actually. ��We ran for seventeen seasons, produced over three hundred episodes and two movies? �� Stargate? ��STARGATE?!”

“Could you spell that?”

Even with a writing/producing background on one of the most successful franchises in television history, the chances of selling a pitch are slim. ��People love great ideas. ��They love great scripts. ��But, usually, not enough to buy them. ��Established properties on the other hand…well, that’s a different story. ��And that’s something I was well aware of from my days working development.

And so, rather than roll the dice on a pitch tour, I made a single call – to Keith Goldberg at Dark Horse Comics��and presented him my idea for��Dark Matter. ��He loved it and, in no time, we were in business with publisher Mike Richardson on a four-issue SF comic book series. ��That would eventually be collected into a trade paperback. ��Which would be used as a visual aid and sales document to help Prodigy Pictures President Jay Firestone sell the show.

So, much respect for Mike Richardson, Keith Goldberg, artist Garry Brown, colorist Ryan Hill, editor Patrick Thorpe and the rest of the gang at��Dark Horse Comics��(Kari Yadro, Aub Driver, Spencer Cushing et al.)

And much respect for Executive Producers Jay Firestone and Vanessa Piazza for getting the show to air.

And much respect for my terrific cast, crew, VFX, and post personnel helped me produce one hell of an awesome SF series. ��And a ship-based SF series no less!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

April 11, 2015: Our Stargate Family Reunion continues on Dark Matter!

Well, well, well. ��Look who it is. ��Director Martin Wood (Stargates SG-1 and Atlantis) hits the streets of Toronto – in his trademark shorts. ��Yes, if there are two thing I remember about Martin Wood from our days on Stargate, it’s: 1) His penchant for wearing shorts year round, and 2) His onscreen cameo character, Major Wood, always lugged around a giant wrench.

Alas, no giant wrench on Dark Matter (but who knows? ��We’ve yet to shoot his episode, #111) but the shorts are still in full effect!

We had our final (?) notes session with Executive Producer Jay Firestone the other day. ��Soon after, we made the necessary changes and released our season finale, episode #113. ��As I may have mentioned, I want to approach each season as a instalment in a book series. ��And so, #113 offers answers to many of the questions we set up over the course of our initial 13 episode journey and includes one HUGE reveal. ��But I made a point of scripting it in a way that keeps the mystery reveal a secret…until our very last day of production. ��A LOT of theories swirling around set right now…

B 1st Assistant Camera Marcel Janisse enjoys lunch in the infirmary’s isolation chamber.

I’m thinking it’s high time for another mailbag. ��If you’ve got questions about the show, post away. ��I’ll answer later in the week.

I’m also thinking of doing one of those reddit AMA’s. ��How do they work?

Finally, here’s another look at the��Dark Matter��teaser trailer:

Over 47k+ views and counting! ��Share! ��Share! ��Share!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., science fiction, Science Fiction Television, scifi, scifi television, SF, SF television, SG1, SGA, SGU, Stargate, Stargate Universe, Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: SG-1, SyFyFriday, SyFyFridays

April 10, 2015: Check out the Dark Matter teaser trailer!

It’s here! ��It’s here! ��The��Dark Matter��teaser trailer is finally out! ��Share! ��Share! ��Share!

Head on over to IGN.com for the write-up and links:

http://www.ign.com/videos/2015/04/10/dark-matter-trailer

When SyFy told us they wanted to produce a one minute teaser trailer for the show, my initial response was “Impossible!”. ��We only had two locked episodes with no finished visual effects. ��How could they possibly produce a compelling trailer?

Well, I stand corrected. ��This first teaser trailer is pretty darn terrific. ��A big thanks to��Gary Morgenstein, Katherine Nelson, Bill Trojanowski, Samantha Agnoff and the rest of the gang at SyFy Publicity & Marketing! ��Great job on this one and I look forward to the next VFX-laden trailers to come!

SyFyFridays returns to SyFy June 12th with an SF triple header! ��A two part premiere of Defiance kicks things off at 8:00 p.m. ��And Dark Matter has��the 10:00 p.m. slot.

Circle the date on your calendars and SHARE THE HELL out of our trailer!

And here’s a little behind-the-scenes pic to tide you over until tomorrow. ��Locked and loaded.

Allow me to end today’s entry with a shout out for my long-time buddy, Lou Anders, who is about to publish the second book in his Thrones & Bones series (Nightborn��hits the shelves July 14, 2015). ��Meanwhile, Lou’s been keeping busy, touring. ��And, apparently, his characters are going places as well:��http://louanders.blogspot.com/2015/04/thrones-bones-characters-for-fate.html

Thanks, all. ��And get the word out. ��We’ve already got over 22k views and counting. ��I want to reach 50k by Sunday!

Tagged: #BecauseWeAreDangerous, Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., science fiction, Science Fiction Television, scifi, scifi television, SF, SF television

April 9, 2015: The Dark Matter trailer is almost here! More Dark Matter personnel!

Received confirmation that the very first Dark Matter��teaser trailer will hit the net tomorrow morning. ��Watch for it!

Today, Paul and I completed our final pass on episode #113, the big season finale! Looking forward to hearing the reactions…

Came across the following sign on one of our stages today. ��Should I be worried?

Also came across this little item on set today. ��Not sure what it is, but I think I might need one.

Our��Dark Matter��whisky club whisky collection continues to grow. ��Another bottle of scotch…

c/o 1st Assistant Director Brandon Tataryn.

Two more��recent additions to our whisky club. ��I like scotch, but I love bourbon – and that baby bourbon is a tasty one!

1st Assistant Director Grant Boyle contributes yet another bottle to the club.

And a little something from Director Bruce McDonald.

Allow me to continue to introduce to you the individuals who’ll be bringing you��Dark Matter:

Production Manager Robbie David enjoys a lonely lunch. ��Check out the heartbreaking look in his eyes.

B Camera Operator Anton Van Rooyen is as careful with his diet as he is with his camera.

Pre-nuptial B Dolly Grip Phil Calambakas. ��Sorry, ladies, he’s off the market!

3rd Assistant Director Lauren Guyatt is super fun. ��A terrific addition to any production – or party.

Dark Matter��trailer! ��Tomorrow!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

April 8, 2015: Sleep or blog? As if I have a choice!

Following a day in which I was on set for main unit call, then drove over to editing where I finished my prod cut of episode #107, then picked up rum cakes for the crew on my drive back to set, sat in on the production meeting for episode #110, went back to set, had script meetings for episodes #112 and #113, headed back to set, then sat in on an impromptu script meeting for episode #110 – I am burned out. ��And ready for bed.

But I have a blog to write!

As much as I’m tempted to skip an entry (It happens on occasion), I can’t. ��I haven’t missed a daily update in eight years. ��Also, you guys pay good money to be entertained and enlightened.

So, rather than disappoint you with a half-ass blurb, I’m going to wow you instead. ��With set pics from random episodes! ��And rum cake!

Man down! ��Anthony Lemke (THREE) practices getting the crap beaten out of him.

Who resides in the underground lair?

The future has a definite Japanese influence.

In many respects.

Corporate Guard, Ferrous Corp!

Owner/baker Tova packs up my rum cakes. ��Four in all!

In hindsight, the perfect end to an exhausting day.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

April 7, 2015: Dark Matter Worldwide!

Dark Matter Goes International!

http://variety.com/2015/tv/global/spaceship-drama-dark-matter-to-go-global-on-syfy-1201467374/

“LONDON ��� TV series ���Dark Matter��� is going global on Syfy following its U.S. premiere on the channel on June 12.

It will air on Syfy in 86 countries, including the U.K., France, Germany, Spain and Australia. Regions where it plays on the channel include Asia, Central Europe and Latin America. […]”

Great news!�� This means that the next time I travel to Tokyo, I’ll be able to stay in and watch Dark Matter��on Universal Channel (Japan)!

We’re still a ways from finished visual effects, but there’s some very positive early buzz on the show. ��People who have watched the rough cuts of our first two episodes are��very excited by what they’ve seen. ��The feedback has been fantastic and we keep hearing the same things: “Great characters!”, ��“Great sets!” and, most importantly “Fun!”.

Let’s celebrate with the final instalment in our Four Days of Tabor Calchek feature:

I saved the best for last. ��This one’s going to be my new desktop wallpaper!

Can’t wait to see the Tabor Calchek cosplayers at Comic Con next year.

The awesome Bruce McDonald was in the ship’s underbelly this morning, shooting his final scene for episode #107. ��Love this guy. ��It was a pleasure working with him – and an equally great pleasure watching his director’s cut of same episode (minus that outstanding scene). ��It’s going to be great. ��But don’t take it from me. ��I screened it for Akemi the other night and she couldn’t stop talking about it.

Another director I’m a huge fan of is Ron Murphy who followed Bruce today, shifting the action to the mess – and episode #109. ��It was a festive atmosphere. Especially after we broke out the party favors:

Tomorrow: Editing! ��Infirmary! ��Bridge battle! ��Jay’s notes on the season finale! And rum cakes!

Not necessarily in that order!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., science fiction, Science Fiction Television, scifi, scifi television, SF, SF television