Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 392

April 6, 2015: Day #3 of our Four Days of Tabor Calchek feature! Enjoying the great outdoors on Dark Matter episode #109!

I admire people who dress like they just don’t care – what other people think. Lady Gaga. ��Don Cherry. ��And, of course,��Dark Matter‘s��Tabor Calchek. ��I knew the gang in wardrobe was going to have a lot of fun dressing him – maybe, I suspected, a little too much fun. ��So it was with a certain amount of trepidation that I made my way down to the costume department last month for a sneak peek at Tabor’s outfits. I was treated to a lot of comfy wear (see previous blog instalments) and then a bit of flash in the form of the type of shirt usually reserved for disco enthusiasts or East European gangsters. ��I loved it, but had only one small request. ��Instead of just having him in his underwear, lets give Tabor pants. Pleather pants!

And, voila! ��He’s ready for business. ��Or a night out on the town!

I was up at 4:30 this morning so that I could prepare my breakfast, see to the dogs, and then take the hour long drive to Hamilton for today’s 7:00 a.m. main unit call. ��It was still dark by the time I rolled into the crew park.

Hell, it was so early, it was late!

Shooting in the woods today. ��And I mean that in two senses of the word.

Also, occasional slashing and stabbing.

“A” 2nd Assistant Camera, Michael Purdon, color codes sticks for blocking.

Okay, what I mean is, when the actors come to set, the director will “block” a scene with them, deciding who moves where and when. ��Once that has been decided, “marks” are placed on the floor (usually tape, color coded for each performer, but, in today’s case, sticks) so that everyone knows exactly where they should be standing and/or moving to in order to “hit their mark”.

It was, thankfully, our final location day for episode #109. ��I suppose it could’ve been worse. ��It could’ve been raining. ��On the other hand, it could’ve been just slightly better with the addition of snow. ��Ah, I suppose I can just get Lawren, our VFX Supervisor, to add some in post. ��How hard can it be?

Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok and actress Melissa O’Neil (TWO) try to stay warm. ��Hey! ��It’s winter again!

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

April 5, 2015: The Four Days of Tabor Calchek continues! My Easter feast!

In many ways, I envy the crew’s handler, Tabor, and his ability to get in a good day’s work – without ever having to change out of his pyjamas. ��It’s one of the perks of a freelance career, especially one that affords a comfy home office and the convenience of interstellar communications.

Happy Easter! ��Sadly, I couldn’t join my family in Montreal for our annual feast due to my tight production schedule. ��Happily, I was able to do the next best thing: join someone else’s family for a feast.

And that someone was��Dark Matter��Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok who kindly invited Akemi and me to a tasty banquet with his mother, sister, several guests, and sticky toffee pudding! ��Sarah Bartok, Ivon’s sister, was visiting from Montreal where she is the co-host of the city’s most popular radio show (read all about her here:��http://www.thebeat925.ca/an/sarah-bartok-1060.html). ��She was kind enough to bring me back a jar of Au Pied de Cochon Tomato Jam! ��A taste of home.

My other home.

We kicked things off with two tourtieres (meat pies), one from local Toronto gourmet shop Pusatieri’s, the other from one of my all-time favorite restaurants Au Pied de Cochon. ��The former was good but the latter was outstanding.

Then, it was on to the main course: perfectly cooked roast lamb chops, mashed and baked potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, ��roasted parsnips, and brussel sprouts.

And, for dessert: individual sticky toffee puddings, a flourless chocolate cake, and a lemon pie so tart I think I may have sprained a salivary gland eating it. ��All delicious.

Many thanks to my new adopted family, the Bartoks: mom, brother Ivon, and sister Sarah. ��I’m moving in this weekend!

Stay tuned! ��You’ll finally get a sneak peek at��Dark Matter��this week when SyFy releases our very first teaser trailer. �� ��#BecauseWe’reDangerous

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

April 4, 2015: We have an official premiere date! Kicking off my Four Days of Tabor Calchek feature! Introducing on set dresser Jean Brophey!

With the cast reveals right around the corner, it’s time to ramp up the big visual reveals as we count down towards our early summer premiere. ��So let’s kick things off with a mini blog feature I’m calling The Four Days of Tabor Calchek.

Introducing the crew’s handler, their de facto agent, the guy who gets them their freelance assignments. ��He’s smug; he’s smarmy; he’s swank and laid-back. ����Day #1: Let’s call this one “Home Office Casual”.

Hey, speaking of��Dark Matter’s��summer premiere, we’ve got an official airdate:

That’s Friday, June 12th at 10:00 p.m. ��Ah, this takes me back. ��Do you remember the glorious Friday SF triple header of days gone by: Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: SG-1, and Battlestar Galactica running back to back to back? ��Well, rumour has it science fiction fans are in for a real treat this summer as SyFy brings back SciFi Fridays. ��I, for one, can’t wait.

But I’m going to have to because Atmosphere is still working on those visual effects.

Hey, continuing my ongoing series of “Who’s who on the��Dark Matter��crew?” – it is with great pleasure that, today, I introduce to you the awesome Jean Brophey, On Set Dresser extraordinaire. ��It’s her job to make sure things look good before the director yells “Action!”, and she takes her job pretty seriously, scrambling onto set to switch out cargo��crates, flip bed covers, and whisk away weird background elements that she, the eagle-eyed expert, will catch before anyone else.

And when she’s not ensuring on set continuity on the rotating quarters sets (She has a visual overview of each crew member’s room hanging on the far wall for easy referral) or pointing out potential visual miscues, she’s moving stuff whether it be chairs, tables, weapons or…

…a pile of giant rocks.

Need that grand piano moved? ��Well contact Jean c/o��Dark Matter!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

April 3, 2015: Yet another Stargate-Dark Matter connection! And let’s meet some more of the people who’ll be bringing you the show!

Well, well, well. ��If it isn’t another��Dark Matter��guest star with a Stargate connection. ��Which of you diehard SG-1 fans recognizes Supreme High Council Per’sus of the tok’ra, who nearly lost his life at the hands of a za’tarc way back in the season four episode “Dive and Conquer”? ��Small galaxy, no?

Back when Stargate concluded its awesome t.v. run back in 2010, I knew that, when all was said and done and all the sets had been struck, the final episode delivered, and I took that closing walk from the production offices��to my car for the last time, I knew in my heart that there was one thing I would miss more than anything.

The money.

But coming in a close second was the people I worked with, some of whom I’d spent the better part of twelve years of my life along, making three fantastic t.v. shows. ��I honestly thought I’d never be lucky enough to work with a group as talented, kind, and supportive as the cast and crew from Stargate. ��But four years later, here I am, in Toronto (of all places!), working with an equally talented, kind and supportive��and supportive cast and crew. ��In many ways, they actually remind me of the old��gang, and my experience working with them has been, at times, very reminiscent of the great days I spent on the Stargate franchise. ��This, of course, is a testament to the hard work and careful management by Prodigy Picture’s (and Dark Matter��Executive Producers) Jay Firestone and Vanessa Piazza who assembled a great team for this project, made up of��Lost Girl��veterans and other familiar faces.

Anyway, they’re great people – who are all too often unsung heroes of the production process. �� So here are a few of the behind-the-scenes individuals who help make this show great…

2nd Assistant Art Directo (and budding amateur taxidermist) Kelly Diamond. You’re already familiar with some of her work (the videos for Cosmic Tonic and Intergalactic Pet Shipping! to name a couple), but you’ll see her awesome grapahic/playback skills on full display once the series starts to air. ��That Android data stream in episode #103? ��That’s her!

If he isn’t juggling the front office action or overseeing supply runs, Production Assistant Kyle Dolphin can be found showing off his physical prowess during the weekly Friday Push-Up contest. ��Remind me to show you pics of that time he was drafted to model the space suit. ��It’s like he was born to perform an EVA!

I’ve only had the pleasure to work with editor Teresa Hannigan on a single episode so far, but rumor has it I’ll be fortunate enough to re-team with her soon.

On Set Carpenter Jesse Partin notable for, among many other things, riding the mechanical bull that time we shot the casino episode in Hamilton. ��Also, he’s our resident doorman – in charge of ensuring a smooth open and close on those sliding ship doors.

The title of “Craft Server” doesn’t do justice to the culinary wizard that is John Schieder. ��Mornings, if you’re looking for a breakfast burrito or omelet, he’ll make you one to order. ��Then, throughout the day, will ensure you’re well-fed, offering up a rotating assortment of impressive food items, from sausages and schnitzel to greek salads and the best damn clam chowder I’ve ever eaten.

And I’ll undoubtedly miss them all once the show ends.

Five years from now.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., Stargate, Stargate: SG-1

April 2, 2015: Dark Matter casting announcements! David Hewlett! Ruby Rose!

Well, finally! ��It’s official!

http://io9.com/first-details-on-david-hewletts-return-to-syfy-in-dark-1695188609

“David Hewlett is returning to Syfy! This summer Hewlett will reunite with Stargate Atlantis writers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie on their new show Dark Matter.

Hewlett will have a recurring part as Talbor Calchek. In a slight change for Hewlett, Calchek is a sleazy agent for unsavory mercenaries who will appear in a four-episode arc.”

Who is Tabor Calchek? ��Well…

“Slick, silver-tongued, and more than a little seedy. Tabor Calchek is the team���s handler��and the ultimate agent. For the standard 10% commission, he uses his underworld connections as a broker to secure his clients their lucrative assignments. Tabor is sly, manipulative and opportunistic, and can always be counted on to look out for his client’s best interests…right after his own.���

Imagine a cross between Stargate: Atlantis’s Rodney McKay, Entourage’s Ari Gold, and Nic Cage’s Detective Rick Santoro from Snake Eyes, and you’d have a pretty fair approximation of the Tabor character. ��His morals are as suspect as his fashion sense, but he is a hoot! ��When it came time to cast the role, we reached out to David and made him an offer. ��No audition necessary because I knew he would nail it. ��And he did, delivering a performance that had us all struggling to stifle our laughter during his takes. ��Behind the scene pics to come. ��But here’s something to tide you over…

Little known fact: When he’s not acting, David Hewlett works station security on Shaofu 2!

Our second BIG guest star announcement:

“Also guest-starring in the show’s first season will be Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black) as Wendy, described as a “dangerously beautiful android with a full range of pleasure features.”

Well, sure. ��That’s one way to describe her, but I prefer…

“Wendy��is an entertainment model android designed and built for FUN.��The crew discovers her, disassembled in a remote section of the ship and decide to bring her online. Using every bit of her entertainment programming to her advantage, she immediately charms everyone on board – with the exception the ship���s practical work model android who finds Wendy illogical and plain bad company. Resentment brews as the two droids vie for the crew���s attention and affection.”

Ruby landed on our show thanks to the inspired, out-of-the-box casting mind of��Dark Matter��Executive Producer Jay Firestone – and she was an utter delight to work with. ��Smart, sweet, and exceptionally dedicated to her craft, she delivers a one-of-a-kind performance as the multi-faceted Wendy, at turns sunny, sharp, and totally kick-ass. ��Oh, and 1000 bonus points to her for being such a compassionate dog rescuer.

Ruby celebrated her birthday��Dark Matter��style, with Executive Producer Jay Firestone and the gang playing laser tag.

AND…that’s another wrap! ��Episode #108 is in the books and director T.W. Peacocke heads to editing.

Monday, we roll right back into episode #109 with four days of director Ron Murphy’s episode still to shoot.

And then,��Dark Matter��stunt coordinator John Stead assumes the directing reins on episode #110.

While that goes to camera, it’s another Stargate reunion of sorts as director Martin Wood comes into town to prep episode #111.

And we finish��Dark Matter’s��first season in fine style, with another��Stargate��alum as director Andy Mikita drops by to shoot episodes #112 and #113.

I can’t believe we have less than two months to go. ��I’ve got to start making plans for my return trip home to Vancouver!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., David Hewlett, Ruby Rose, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis

April 1, 2015: Scenes from set!

Well, hunh. ��That super special (double) special guest star announcement was supposed to come out today. ��Honest. ��And, despite the delays, it still may. ��Or, at worst, come out tomorrow. ��At the very latest!

Probably.

Scenes from set…

The production hotline is akin to the red phone, only to be used in cases of extreme emergency. ��This afternoon, I discovered on set producer Ivon Bartok using it to order a pizza.

What’s at the end of the underground tunnel? ��Actually, the correct question would be: “Who’s at the end of the underground tunnel?”

Joe and Dino ride the dolly. ��Next up: the roller coaster!

Director T.W. Peacocke and Visual Effects Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson confer on a shot. ��1st Assistant Director Brandon Tataryn flashes a knowing smile. ��But what DOES he know?!

Steve and Alex discuss the grab, spin, smoke and restrain.

Gun girl Nikki ready for action.

Dark Matter��Production Designer Ian Brock lends his support. ��And he was still standing there when I left set today!

This guy! ��That guy! ��And Portuguese chicken lunch!

And, of course, Portuguese tarts. ��The chicken was just an appetizer.

Tomorrow marks our final day of production on episode #108. ��Up next: Director Ron Murphy returns for episode #109 while��Dark Matter��stunt coordinator John Stead does the donors for #110. ��And, finally, we complete the season with a double dose of Stargate ��vets: directors Martin Wood and Andy Mikita. ��Ah, just like old times…

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

March 31, 2015: Welcome to Arcturus 4!

Welcome to space station Arcturus 4.

It’s light years from Vega V in both distance and style. ��V5 is a way station catering to business travelers and upscale shoppers while A4 is temporary home to some of this galaxy’s most notorious miscreants.

Case in point, look at who we happened across this morning walking the station’s skeevy corridors: none other than FOUR (Alex Mallari Jr.) looking FOURCLAN chic.

Or stop by one of the station’s underbelly rummage shops for a deal on archaic gak or a blackmarket sidearm. ��http://www.denofgeek.com‘s Michael Ayr minds the store. ��Would you like bullets with that?

Tomorrow, I start my morning at the Transfer Transit center (more on that in the coming weeks), then head over to the production offices for a��Dark Matter��quadruple feature of episodes 102, 103, 104, and 105. ��I suspect I’ll be spending most of the afternoon slugging for ADR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbing_(filmmaking)#ADR.2Fpost-sync) before ending the night deep, deep underground…

Late breaking news! ��Tomorrow, our special guest stars will finally be revealed!

March 30, 2015: Welcome to Vega V!

I was up at 5:30 a.m. this morning so that I could make the one hour drive over to space station Vega V for our 8:00 main unit call.

After passing through customs and checking my weapons, I consulted the space station’s kiosk for entertainment options:

First up, breakfast…

The dining room offers a beautiful view of the nearby (relatively speaking) nebula. I enjoyed a shot of Aldebaran Whisky, a pint of Spice Beer, then chased them both down with a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster.

They were out of��Bulgar Ashkhan so I had “the special”, a selection of this galaxy’s most memorable pastries.

Director T.W. Peacocke skips breakfast to concentrate on other things. ��Like, say, shooting a t.v. show.

Next stop…

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.

March 29, 2015: Custom-made stuff!

Akemi: We have to turn on the humidifighter.

Me: You mean humidifier.

Akemi: No, humidifighter. ��It fights against dryness.

Akemi was thrilled today as she received delivery of the custom keychains she ordered from http://www.benir.gallery.

Along the same lines, I’m having this place –��http://www.knottytie.com – to make me a couple of custom ties based on Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights.

If this one works out, I might expand my wardrobe of weird classic artwork-themed ties…

The Nightmare by John Fuseli.

The Scream by Edvard Munch.

The Smiling Spider by Odilon Redon.

Medusa by Caravaggio.

I’d consider them conversation starters.

March 28, 2015: On the home front!

After much consideration and soul searching, Akemi decided to cut her hair. ��She really wanted to go short but others suggested she keep it long – so she split the difference and went medium. ��Now she’s looking for tips on what to do with it. ��I’m the wrong guy to ask.

Before.

Bubba is fascinated by the building go up next door. ��He’s like an old Italian man at a construction site, whiling away the hours.

My poor girl. ��Even though she’s in good spirits and has a healthy appetite, her bad 16 year old hips are catching up with Jelly and, lately, she’s been unable to walk without assistance. ��As a result of her immobility issues, she’s acquired a rash that requires me to slather baby diaper cream on her belly morning and night. ��Ah, the things we do for love.

Lulu, meanwhile, continues her unladylike ways. ��The other day, actor Alex Mallari Jr. (FOUR) and his girlfriend, Allie, were over when Lulu loosened belch so loud and sustained she actually scared Allie.

Yes, I’m talking about you.

Lulu + Jodelle = BFF!

Akemi doodles.