Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 396
February 25, 2015
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
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
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.
February 22, 2015
February 22, 2015: Second Christmas!
Last night, Akemi and I went out with our friends Jeff and Barb who are in town for a few days to enjoy all the snow, subzero temperatures, and blistering wind that Toronto has to offer. ��Last time Jeff was in town, we took him out to one of my favorite restaurants: Buca. ��For his return visit, we decided to take him and Barb somewhere completely different: Bar Buca, sister restaurant to Buca.
Jeff and Barb – all smiles. As usual.
What did we eat? ��Well, a lot. ��All told, over a dozen plates. ��I don’t know. Whenever I order, I always think I’m not ordering enough while everyone else – especially the waiters – feel just the opposite. ��I suspect I need to start listening to everyone else.
A few of the culinary highlights:
Salt baked beets, stracciatella spuma, pistachio, sea buckthorn berry
Beef tongue, buffalo yogurt, pickled mushroom, turnip, radish
Baby octopus, soppressata, crema di patate
Porches on focaccia: roast tuscan pork, mascarpone, apple mostarda, agliata
Smoked bone marrow, lampredotto, agliata
Rolled eggplant with ricotta and prosciutto, tomato, stracciatella
It was great catching up with Jeff and Barb. ��Their presence was presents enough. But so were the actual presents they – and blog regular Sylvia – surprised us with…
Second Christmas!
Akemi’s new hot chocolate mug.
Socks! I can never have enough!
Lulu was eyeing this little guy when we got back to our place.
Sushi socks! Just in time for our Sock of the Day feature!
At 16, I guess Jelly’s old enough.
A bottle of Ardberg which Jeff describes as “On the smoky side”. Perfect. I like peaty. And, best of all, my writer partner doesn’t so I won’t have to share.
A big thank you to Jeff, Barb, and Sylvia. ��Merry Second Christmas!
Tagged: Bar Buca
February 21, 2015
February 21, 2015: Promises, promises!
I love��Dark Matter��Costume Designer Noreen Landry and the rest of her crew in wardrobe. ��They’re talented, resourceful, and incredibly creative. ��Sometimes, I think, maybe a little too creative when it comes to some of the wilder ideas they’ve thrown my way. ��Still, I thought I’d done a pretty good job of managing the more inspired pitches, deferring them to the nebulous foreseeable future. ��That is until I walked into the costume department the other day and spotted this tacked onto the bulletin board:
��Oooooh, crap.
Well there you have it. ��Season 2 spoiler alert! ��Aliens, color, and wacky/beautiful hats!
Speaking of spoiler alerts and promises – yes, that press release concerning that familiar special guest star was supposed to come out this week…but now looks like it’ll come out Monday instead. ��But while you’re waiting, here’s another casting hint. ��His character has the distinction of being one of only a handful to appear in all three��Stargate��shows (SG-1,��Atlantis, and��Universe).
That should narrow things down.
Finally, I came across the following white board message posted at our location set. Wonder if Zoie Palmer is behind this?
Gordon?
Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.
February 20, 2015
February 20, 2015: Director Amanda Tapping’s last day! Birthday bash on Shaofu 2! A visit to the space station clinic!
Today marked the final day of Amanda Tapping’s directing gig on Dark Matter episode #104 (pictured above with 1st Assistant Director Brandon Tataryn).
We’re going to miss her. ��And not just because she treated the cast and crew to a mobile coffee, tea, and hot chocolate stand!
Meanwhile, Assistant Production Coordinator Travis Lowry celebrated his birthday in fine style today with streamers and balloons and a Steel Magnolias-themed cake (featuring him and the ladies). ��Pictured above, the birthday boy takes a break from the festivities to pose for an Executive Producer mandated birthday photo. ��Note the look in his eyes, a mixture of excitement, delight, and pure terror.
While Travis was celebrating his birthday on Earth, the rest of the production was on Shaofu 2 for our last day on the space station!
I’m going to miss this place. ��After a terrific six days in its atmospherically controlled environs, we capped things off with a visit to the station’s clinic…
That’s a wrap on #104. ��Next week, we’re on to episode #105, moving from space station to space freighter!
Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.
February 19, 2015
February 19, 2015: A casting hint! Cat Shirt Thursday on Shaofu 2!
While we wait for the official press release on our recent casting coup (any day now!), how about a little hint in the from of a character breakdown for��the latest addition to the��Dark Matter��family:
“Sick, silver-tongued, and more than a little seedy, Tabor Calchek is the crew���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.���
So, guesses? ��Who do you think would be perfect for the role?
Hey, it was Cat Shirt Thursday today on Shaofu 2!
Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.
February 18, 2015
February 18, 2015: And now a word from our interstellar sponsors!
Today’s blog entry, brought to you by Solar Soda and Cosmic Tonic. ��For a taste truly out of this world!
*A division of Station Shaofun 2 Holdings, Ltd. ��CEO of graphics, Roxanne Barris. ��President of digital motion, Kelly Diamond.
We now return to our scheduled blog entry, already in progress…
��– haven’t worked together in years, so I’m really looking forward to working with him on��Dark Matter. He comes in for his costume fitting sometime next week (or the week after that). ��A great bit of casting news, wouldn’t you agree?
I capture the exact moment that��Dark Matter��VFX Supervisor, Lawren Bancroft-Wilson, came up with what��Stargate��Executive Producer Brad Wright would term a “Grinchy Idea”. ��This during today VFX spotting for Dark Matter��episodes #101 and #102. ��Editors Paul Day and Wendy Hallam-Martin did tremendous jobs on the cuts. ��I can’t tell you how excited I am by the end results. ��These two episodes are going to be spectacular and I can’t wait to share them with you…right after the mix, color correct, the visual effects are finished, and we deliver them to SyFy. Oooh, you’re in for a treat.
Speaking of treats, let’s continue our slow reveal of Zoie Palmer’s Android character with another piece of the corporeal puzzle…
She’s coming together quite nicely, no?
And for rabid fans (We know who you are!) of Natalie Cooper’s Sock of the Day feature, may I present today’s instalment…
That’s it. ��Back on Shaofu 2 with director Amanda Tapping and the gang tomorrow, then one more day before we switch gears and head on over to the Far Horizon.
Also, next week marks the arrival of our new Consulting Producer – and another reunion of sorts. ��I’m going to need to find us a good taco joint. ��Ah, just like old times.
Tagged: Cosmic Tonic, Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., Solar Soda
February 17, 2015
February 17, 2015: The many superhero shirts of Jay Firestone!
The first time I met Jay Firestone was about two years ago, while I was in town working on some nameless production. ��My agent called to inform me that he had scheduled me a meeting with a very busy, very successful local producer. ��I thought: “Sure, why not?”. ��Ninety-nine percent of the time, these meet and greets amount to nothing, but my afternoon was wide open. ��This, as it turned out, was in contrast to Jay’s afternoon which was peppered with meetings, phone calls, and pre, post, and production duties. ��An average day for him. ��I had been squeezed into his frenzied schedule, somewhere between a network conference call and a meeting with another producer and yet, despite the tight window, our sit-down was laid back, unrushed, and surprisingly entertaining. ��I say surprisingly because, as anyone who has ever done these kind of meetings will tell you, they’re about as entertaining as your friend’s son’s student film project. ��I remember he struck me as smart, enthusiastic, and��funny.
I didn’t know whether I’d left an impression one way or the other but, months later, my agent let me know me that Jay wanted to hire my writing partner, Paul, and I to develop a show for him. ��We happily signed on and soon started work with him on a delightfully creepy fantasy series. ��Going in, I was admittedly leery when Jay made it clear he was going to be creatively involved in the project’s evolution, but my misgivings were put to rest after our first story discussion and subsequent notes call. ��There were none of the standard executive requests (We need a ticking clock! ��Can our heroine be more proactive? ��Can we make the aardvark an anteater?). ��Instead, the focus was on making the most of character opportunities. And, best of all, his notes didn’t assume the average viewer had the intellect of Narragansett turkey. ��They were good. ��Most we agreed with and, those we didn’t agree with he would open to debate. ��We had a great time.
Until we went to the network and the project was shelved. ��But we came away from the experience with the certainty that we would��find a way to work together again in the not too distant future. ��That certainty – and our development fees.
Months later, my agent called to say that Jay had��read Dark Matter and liked it enough to go out and try to set it up (aka – put together the financial package to get it made). ��I remember thinking “If anyone can get it done, it’s Jay.”. ��And, as it turned out, I was right. ��In fact, in retrospect, I’m fairly certain that the ONLY one who could have gotten it done was Jay. ��Fellow producers are still unable to comprehend how he pulled it off. ��They can’t believe it. ��For my part, I CAN believe it – but that’s only because I know Jay now. ��Connected, driven, utterly relentless Jay.
Having wrapped one production (Lost Girl) and rolled straight into another (Dark Matter), you’d think he’d slow down a little. ��Think again. In addition to his Exec Producing duties on the show, he’s also tirelessly at work, trying to set up a dozen more. ��Two weeks ago he was in London. ��Last week it was Berlin. ��This week, it’s L.A. ��Next week? ��Who knows. ��New York? ��Tokyo? ��Bobo Dioulasso?
So, about a month into production on Dark Matter, and having worked with him, on an off, for a couple of years now, I can tell you this��about Jay Firestone: He’s creatively ambitious. ��He’s incredibly business savvy. ��And he owns A LOT of superhero t-shirts.
Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., Jay Firestone
February 16, 2015
February 16, 2015: Introducing Production Coordinator Alice Foster! Mailbag!
Sweet, soft-spoken, yoga enthusiastic. ��You’d think I was describing myself but, in fact, I’m talking about the wonderful Alice Foster, Dark Matter‘s Production Coordinator. ��And coordinate she does, juggling everything from travel and accommodations to – oh, just about everything else – with dextrous aplomb and unflagging cheerfulness. ��Who got me this apartment conveniently close to a dog park? ��Alice! ��Who saw to it that I was picked up from my place and transported to the airport to catch a flight to New York where I met with SyFy and then caught a flight back to Toronto and transported back to my place, all within a 15 hour period? ��Alice! ��Who arranged the Dark Matter cookie exchange? ��Alice!
Above: a shot of the elusive Alice Foster
Captured in her natural habitat, surrounded by files, notebooks, schedules and tea, Alice Foster is the production’s equivalent of Siri – ever-pleasant and full of answers!
Mailbag:
dasndanger writes: “Whatever happened to our Dancing With the Dark Matter Stars?”
Answer: Our resident dancer’s sword has been doing all of the singing and dancing lately. ��Go bug him about it:��https://twitter.com/AlexMallariJr
gilazaria writes: ” Those ���Vegan Peanuts Butter Chocolate��� cookies that Akemi made sound delightful. As a full time vegan foodie, would you mind sharing the recipe?”
Answer: According to Akemi, she followed a recipe she found here (http://detoxinista.com/2014/05/no-bake-peanut-butter-cup-bars-vegan/). ��Meanwhile, you can check out Akemi’s culinary capers on her youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/akemiaota) – like this one of her and the dogs enjoying home made popcorn for the first time:
arcticgoddess writes: “Joe, as the top guy/Show-Runner, you must be very indispensable to the making of the show. What happens if you were to get sick? Would you get wheeled into work, hospital bed and all?”
Answer: Don’t be silly. ��Of course not. ��Production would simply move to the hospital (for a series of medical-themed episodes) until I’ve fully recovered.
Tam Dixon writes: ” If you���ve completed over 100 episodes���Does that mean you���re five years ahead?”
Answer: Yep. ��All done. ��I’ve come back in time to relive the first year of Dark Matter‘s immensely successful 10+ season run. ��Good times.
Randomness writes: “Could you ever see the crew of the Raza visiting a ridiculously advanced race of aliens?”
Answer: Oh, sure. ��Anything is possible. ��This is science fiction after all.
Randomness writes: “Will the crew of the Raza face any dangers from the cosmos itself? Similar to how the Destiny faced a binary pulsar.”
Answer: Yes. ��In fact, very early in season one.
Randomness writes: “Memory loss stories can be fun, Stargate had a few, mostly caused by a virus of some kind, can we expect similar from Dark Matter?”
Answer: The entire series is, in essence, one long, winding, surprise-filled memory loss story.
Elminster writes: “When would be a good time to drop in to take you for a Hot Chocolate? Perhaps even you and Amanda?”
Answer: Sadly, what with these 12 hour days, our “going out” ventures have been seriously curtailed.
Airelle writes: “question, episode numbering? starts at 101,102 etc, is there a reason, its not 1, 2, etc?”
Answer: It’s just a preference, something we used to do on Stargate as well. ��Makes it easier to identify the individual episodes within a particular season.
Ponytail writes: “First 3 episodes and 3 different directors. Now throw in different editors who put it all together. Is this customary and why, and how do you keep the same look, feel, and continuity with different eyes behind the camera?”
Answer: Unless you’re shooting a mini-series, it is customary to use multiple directors and editors. ��Production schedules are staggered. ��While one director is shooting, another is prepping the next episode and, when the time comes for the prepping director to shoot his/her episode, another director will be starting prep on a new episode. ��Everyone involved in the production, from producers through cast to crew members ensure continuity.
Line Noise writes: “How accurate do you have to be with episode lengths? I notice that most shows vary in length by up to a minute or more episode to episode. Do you have much leeway?”
Answer: We have absolutely no leeway and have to be accurate on all episode lengths. ��Of course, the final run time will depend on the broadcaster. ��In rare instances, say certain shows on HBO, run times can vary.
Line Noise writes: “Roughly how many times will you watch an episode before it���s finished?”
Answer: Between the dailies, various cuts, mixes, and color correct sessions, I’d say roughly a dozen times.
FargateOne writes: “No music in your sci-fi series ????”
Answer: Yes to music.
whoviantrish writes: “What other Stargate alums?”
Answer: Oh, THAT actor and those directors.
Lily writes: “When can we get some Dark Matter swag?”
Answer: Soon! ��Soon!
Keith writes: “I don���t know how much you still need to keep under wraps, but can you further define the tone of the show? What will the levels of sex, violence and language be in relation to other shows?”
Answer: In terms of tone, I’d liken it to Cowboy Bebop, Stargate, Firefly. ��Sex and violence will be no more predominant than they were in the aforementioned shows.
Keith writes: “Also, are you aiming for a very ���grounded��� series, or are farther afield concepts such as time travel, alternate dimensions, higher beings, magic, etc fair game?”
Answer: Well, on the one hand the show is set in a future where a space-faring humanity has gone out and colonized distant worlds. ��No aliens – yet. ��No time travel or alternate dimensions – but who knows. ��Definitely no higher beings or magic.
livingforcreativity writes: “How many former co-workers moved to Toronto (full time for the duration) to work on Dark Matter?”
Answer: One – our VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson. ��Oh, and one more on the way!
livingforcreativity writes: “Do we have a US TV premiere date? Do we have a second season pickup?”
Answer: SyFy has yet to announce an official premiere date for the series. ��As for a second season, we won’t hear about that until the Fall. :(
Ponytail writes: “Is Akemi watching The Bachelor?”
Answer: Alas, no. ��She says she’s not watching because she can’t pronounce it.
Jenny Horn writes: “where does Natalie get her socks?”
Answer: I believe she’s part of some weird Sock of the Week club.
Ponytail writes: “What are the chances of getting Jason Momoa to guest star in an episode?”
Answer: Would love to have Jason on the show but, from what I hear, he’s been kind of busy lately.
JeffW writes: “Every show seems to have their characteristic FTL jump styles, so is there anything your can tell us about your planned FTL jump effects?”
Answer: They’re differ from the ones we used to do on Stargate. ��In fact, they’re markedly different from anything I’ve seen on live action SF.
JeffW writes: “And what is that half-moon gazing ball that Lawren is holding used for?”
Answer: The ball is used to measure the lighting of a scene so that the VFX team can match it later in their work.
baterista9 writes: “Will we see any other fan-inspired names in DM, or names inspired by Toronto neighborhoods?”
Answer: No names inspired by Toronto neighborhoods? ��But fan-inspired names? ��Maybe.
Anas Ben writes: “my question is plz do u think the visuals re gonna be great?”
Answer: Yes, the show’s visual effects will be awesome!
Airelle writes: “Are you tired of winter?
May we have the bourbon cookie recipe?(thanks Akemi)
How are Jelly,Bubba and Lulu? love the videos!!
What if anything are you doing for Valentines day?
Welcome to Lawren!! silver balls,,hmmmm���
How is Baron Destructo? Have not heard from him in a while.”
Answer: Yes, very tired of winter. ��I posted the bourbon cookie recipe here:
The dogs are great. ��They’re too are hating the winter. ��What did we do for Valentine’s Day? ��Check yesterday’s entry. ��Baron Destructo is fine. ��He’s been busy. ��World domination is hard work.
gforce writes: “I was wondering how Jelly is doing with her paw and if you���ve heard any more about the ���mass��� or whatever it was that the imaging showed. Also, was Lulu���s bed-stealing behaviour something she just picked up since you were in TO?”
Answer: Jelly’s paw is better. ��I believe Lulu’s bed-stealing behavior is fairly recent.
Chad writes: “Will there be any online streaming options for your show?”
Answer: Oh, definitely. ��Yes.
Mike A. writes: “Are you finding that you���re enjoying the differences and liberties you���re taking with the DM show canon versus that of the DM comic?”
Answer: Dark Matter was always developed as a t.v. series first, so the comic book followed the show concept, not vice-versa. ��Ultimately, the comic and the t.v. series both follow the premise, characters, and story arcs conceived several years ago. ��So far, no divergence.
Mike A. writes: “Is it something you looked forward to in eagerness, or just realized would need to happen anyway and never really worried about it?”
Answer: I certainly looked forward to it with eagerness when it was in development, then assumed it was dead, then regained my enthusiasm when Exec Producer Jay Firestone put together the deal that made the show a reality.
Mike A. writes: “How���s Vanessa?”
Answer: Great. ��Last I heard she was snow shoeing in -45 weather.
SpaceFreakMicha writes: “Do you have any photo of Editor Brad Rines in your collection?”
Answer: Hmmm. ��Maybe back in Vancouver. ��But if you google him, a couple of photos will come up – including some from his own blog site.
shinyhula writes: “Is this weeks announcement going to include the trailer?”
Answer: The trailer? ��We’re still working on the edits of episodes 101 and 102 and are still several months away from finished VFX! �� Patience, patience…
Alex Felix writes: “Will Dark Matter have any alien civilizations and if so, will they play a major part on the show?”
Answer: Not for its first season – but who knows what the future holds?
Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.
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