Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 398

December 25, 2014: The Christmas Wind-down!

Akemi and I spent much of the day winding down from last night’s festivities.  It was quite an evening. A couple of the culinary highlights -

After dinner, dessert, and drinks, we retired to the living room for the present-opening portion of the show.  As usual, mostly food and drink-related items for me including a set of copper mugs for when I host my own Moscow Mule soirees.  Everyone got in on the action, even the dogs -

And some more so than others.  Lulu, for instance, spent much of the night helping herself to all the other dogs’ Christmas toys.

It was a sweet, sweet Christmas haul.

By the time all was said and done and unwrapped, we were ready for bed.

And then, this morning, we were all up bright and early (Thanks to Bubba who has been an early riser of late).  We ate leftovers while he dogs had a special Christmas Day breakfast prepared by Chef Akemi.

Hope you’re all enjoying equally relaxed Thursday (It IS Thursday, isn’t it?).  I’m off to read something.

P.S. Sis says thanks to all you well-wishers!

December 24, 2014: Twas the day before Christmas and all through the town, Joe was getting stuff done and running around!

Seriously.  You’d think we were back in Vancouver.

On perhaps the rainiest day of December, Akemi and I found ourselves running around Montreal, running errands.  First, it was exchanging gifts and, of course, food (“Put the shrimp in the oven at 400 for 2o minutes!”).  Then, we were off to the basement of the Ogilvy department store where I picked up my Christmas gift from Sis (on account of her being laid up with some chest thing that may be a bad cold or muscular ailment or pleurisy [which I thought went out of fashion at the turn of the 20th century along alongside derby hats and laudanum]).

Gendron (http://montrealgazette.com/life/urban-expressions/my-montreal-chocolatier-daniel-gendron-of-ogilvys-new-chocolate-boutique) is my favorite chocolate shop in the city.  The chocolates are wonderful, tasty and varied (blue cheese!), but what truly sets them apart are their remarkably thin shells.  I picked up a box of 12 along with a dark chocolate pistachio bar and some baking chocolate chips.

After that, it was four blocks over to my favorite comic shop in Montreal – 1 000 000 Comix (https://www.facebook.com/pages/1000000-COMIX/1437682166443408) – where my buddy Rob Steal was working while owner (and Montreal Comicon CEO) Alex La Prova if presumably of enjoying a well-deserved retirement somewhere on the yacht he purchased with his comic book proceeds.  I picked up a couple of intriguing-looking first issues (Eric Stephenson’s They’re Not Like Us #1, and Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Bitch Planet #1 which was described as Orange is the New Black..in Space!) and the fourth volume of the ever-awesome Saga, written by Brian K. Vaughan which I’ll be jumping on tonight.

We had lunch at Kojak, a Montreal institution, where my friends and I enjoyed many a gyro pita between final call and the 4:00 a.m. all-night bus back to the West Island.  I remember my friend Suzanne once warning me: “The guy I was with ordered the hot sauce.  His nose bled all night!”.  Now THAT is one spicy hot sauce.  Her buddy was clearly a wuss as the worst side effect I suffered was hiccups.

And, finally, on our way home, we stopped off at, appropriately enough, The Sushi Stop (430 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest in Old Montreal) for traditional Christmas sushi (?) to compliment mom’s Christmas Eve feast.

Finally, to those wondering – yes, I intend to offer up my own list of my top reads in 2014.  Work on yours and we’ll exchange recommendations in the next few days.

Merry Christmas Eve!

December 23, 2014: Things I learned today!

Things I learned today: 1. How to make Osso Buco Milanese. 2. I don’t like Osso Buco Milanese. 3. Most of the Best Books of 2014 lists out there range from ridiculous to utter bullshit.  A novel shouldn’t be lauded merely on the basis of a touching premise.  Execution really should factor in. 4. My dogs will keep me up until 1:30 a.m. if they’re uncomfortable in a new place. 5. My dogs will wake me up at 5:30 a.m. if they’re uncomfortable in a new place. 6. I do not function well on less than three hours of sleep. 7. My sister dresses her dogs up in outfits almost as ridiculous as the outfits Akemi makes our dogs wear -

8. ALMOST as ridiculous -

9. My sister also dresses my dogs in outfits as ridiculous as the ones Akemi makes them wear -

10. Mussels are a real pain to clean.

Today’s informative blog entry is dedicated to long-time reader Gilder/baterista9.

December 22, 2014: Montreal Road Trip!

Whenever we bring out the suitcases, the dogs start to worry.  And, invariably, Bubba parks himself inside one of the suitcases as if to not-so-subtly suggest we might want to consider bringing him along.  It was only when he saw us packing away his dog bed that he seemed to calm down, presumably realizing  that, this time, he was coming along for the ride.

Following us around anxiously while we made our Christmas preparations seemed to thoroughly exhaust him.

Lulu, perhaps sensing a big day lay ahead, turned in early as well.

Jelly – well, she was her usual alert and cranky self.

We woke up not-all-that-early and made the drive in about five hours.  While Akemi snoozed, I listened to the first six podcasts of Serial.  I’m enjoying it but, so far, haven’t been all that swayed by the suggestions of innocence.  Looking forward to listening to the last six episodes on the drive back.

The dogs hanging with their cousins, Felix and Caramel.

Mom.

A few of the dishes she customarily prepares for my arrival: fried hot peppers, crab mousse, and stewed rabbit.

And of course, for dessert, mom’s Friendship Cake.

Whew.  It’s only 8:30 p.m. and I feel like it’s more like midnight.  Tomorrow, I’ll be running errands (heading downtown to pick up lobsters) in preparation for our big Christmas Eve dinner.  Also tomorrow, I think Akemi and I will be taking over the kitchen to make dinner.  Akemi’s thinking risotto and is strongly urging me to make Osso Buco Milanese.  Anyone have a can’t miss recipe?

December 21, 2014: Drunken (Southern) Uncles! That Bourbon and Brown Butter Cookie – with white chocolate chunks – recipe!

I made these for the Dark Matter cookie exchange and, since so many of you asked (there must’ve been upwards of two or three of you!), I’m sharing my version of this recipe.  I say “my version” because I used this recipe (http://buddingbaketress.blogspot.ca/2013/04/brown-butter-bourbon-chocolate-chip.html) as a template and refined to my liking.  To achieve the taste, texture and consistency I wanted, I modified the Bakergirl recipe by cutting out a 1/4 cup of cafe flour, eliminating the baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, and, oh yeah, adding just a touch more bourbon.  Instead of the suggested two tablespoons, I went with cup of Makers Mark 46.  And, finally, instead of milk (or dark) chocolate, I went with white chocolate because I felt it best complimented the bourbon flavour without overshadowing it.

The Ingredients

2 cups cake flour

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 eggs (I used duck eggs because they’re richer)

2 bars white chocolate

1 1/4 cup (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, browned

1 1/2 cups brown sugar (I used 1 cup light brown sugar + 1/2 cup dark brown sugar)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 CUP BOURBON!

The Instructions

1. Brown your butter over medium-high heat until it attains a nutty brown appearance, then cover and refrigerate.

2. Combine your flour and set aside.

3. Once your butter has cooled, combine with brown and granulated sugar.  Once creamed, add the vanilla, the eggs and, finally, the bourbon.

4. Combine with the flour (I used my hands), then put it back in the refrigerator and allow it to chill overnight.

5. The following day, chop your white chocolate.

6. Depending on how bing you want your cookies, use 3-4 white chocolate chunks per cookies.  Roll them into balls, then flatten them.

7. Bake them at 350 fahrenheit for anywhere from 15-18 minutes.

8. Let them cool, then enjoy them with a glass of milk (with a shot of bourbon).

***

I just made a batch for Christmas.  Tomorrow, Akemi and I (and the dogs) will be making the 4-6 hour drive to Montreal.  We’ll head out early tomorrow morning and I’m sure it’ll be smooth sailing – despite the fact that the “change engine oil” light has been on all week and indicates I’m at 1% engine oil.  Normally, I’d be worried, but Tony at the office had the oil changed and assured me it’s just a matter of resetting the indicator – which has proven all but impossible despite my various attempts.

Anyway – ROAD TRIP!  Hopefully there will still be some cookies left by the time I arrive.

Tagged: Bourbon and Brown Butter cookies, Bourbon and Brown Butter Cookies with white chocolate chunks, Bourbon cookies

December 20, 2014: The Dark Matter pre-holiday wrap-up! Alex Mallari Jr. in action! THE katana!

One of the last things we did before packing it in for the holidays was go on a walk-thru of our standing sets.  Of course, not all of them are quite yet standing (ie. the shuttle, parts of the space station) and those that are still have a ways to go, but our Art Department did a phenomenal job making it presentable for the tour.  The bridge consoles were in, the corridors lit, and there was even some preliminary playback on the screens.  It all looked, in a word, superfantastic.  I snapped a bunch of pics – and have been doing so for weeks now, documenting the ship’s progress.  I’ll hold off on posting them until we’re officially in production  – but there are plenty of other behind-the-scene pics to show you in the meantime…

(photos c/o Alex Mallari Jr.)

Those of you familiar with the Dark Matter know that the character known as FOUR (aka Ryo Tetsuda, aka Ryo Ishida, aka Slashy McStabberson) isn’t the gunslinging type.  Oh, sure, he packs a sidearm, but his preferred weapon is the katana – sometimes two.  Despite having no formal sword training experience prior to landing the role, under the guidance of our incredible Stunt Coordinator John Stead (more on him in the coming weeks!), actor Alex Mallari Jr. has transformed himself into a twin-blade wielding natural.  Earlier this week, John showed us a video of Alex in training, running through the choreography for the first “training room discovery” scene – a jaw-dropping sequence that perfectly captured the moment as scripted:

“He stands frozen, eyes fixed straight ahead.  Shuts his eyes.  Beat.  And suddenly launches into action: charging, turning, back-pedalling, leaping, ducking, as the blades whirl and sing around him, slicing through the air.  He makes his way across the room in a remarkable display of swordsmanship, lightning quick reflexes controlling the deadly katanas in a blur of movement…”

It was unbelievable.

Check him out on twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMallariJr

Over the course of series, Alex will use two different “production katanas”.  The first is a super lightweight painted bamboo that, I’ve been told, is all the rage on Hong Kong action movie sets.

LBW testing the bamboo blade.

The second is the hero sword, forged of equally light aluminum -

Here it is c/o of our Props Master, Victoria Klein.

Our Production Designer, Ian Brock, designed the unique signature symbol that adorns the saya (scabbard) -

And the blade itself.

Paul checks the weight.

Anyway, we’re all done for the time being (except for the Art Department, Construction, the cast, and yours truly who will be doing another pass on all the scripts) and look ahead to our January 5th return.  Yesterday, it was one final stroll through the sets and then we locked up for the holidays.  Done and done.

Still, I can’t help but feel like I’ve forgotten something…

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

December 19, 2014: Prep hiatus! I’ll sleep ’til January!

Today marked the end of our final week of prep before the holidays – and despite the fact that it wasn’t all that busy (it WILL get busier), I’m exhausted.  Some of that may be attributable to the last mad dash to get pink drafts of episodes #101 and #102, and production whites of #107, #108 and #109 out before the production offices close.  Or the late night meet and greet dinner and drinks.  But I mainly blame that early Thursday morning location survey that saw me getting up at 5:45 a.m. so that I could catch the 7:00 a.m. tour bus to Waterloo and Hamilton.

All aboard!

I mean, it was still dark outside when we left the production offices.  Dark!

Oh, it may not mean all that much to you now but, when the episodes air, you’ll refer back to this blog entry, and this particular picture, and say: “Hey!  This was them scouting the location for that initial confrontation with the Ferrous Corp. soldiers!”

“And this is the area where our crew first encounters the miners.”

“And…well…I don’t remember this room.”  Well, that’s because we’re not using it on this particular shoot – but I snapped a pic anyway because I found it exceptionally creepy.  Maybe we’ll come back when we film that horror movie.

The reactor room – scene of the final showdown – and our Butch and Sundance moment.

I’m ready to do my imitation of Lulu doing an imitation of a boneless ham.

December 18, 2014: Introducing the Dark Matter cast!

In case you hadn’t heard, we finally have our cast: https://www.nbcumv.com/news/syfy-announces-casting-new-acquired-scripted-series-dark-matter?network=33143

“NEW YORK – December 18, 2014 – Syfy today announced casting of the new acquired scripted series Dark Matter, which will feature Melissa O’Neil (Broadway production of Les Miserables), Marc Bendavid (Bitten), Anthony Lemke (White House Down), Alex Mallari Jr. (Robocop) and Jodelle Ferland (Twilight) with Roger Cross (The Strain) and Zoie Palmer (Lost Girl).

The series begins production in Toronto on January 7.

Created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie (executive producers and writers of the Stargate franchise), and developed with Prodigy Pictures (Lost Girl, XIII), the 13 one-hour episodes are based on the graphic novel Dark Matter by Mallozzi and Mullie, published by Dark Horse Comics.

Dark Matter will premiere on Syfy in Summer 2015, joining Syfy’s stable of acquired international and domestic co-productions ranging from the hit series Z Nation to popular programs such as Lost Girl, Bitten and Continuum, and the upcoming series Olympus.

Executive producers are Jay Firestone, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie and Vanessa Piazza. The series will be distributed internationally by Endemol Worldwide Distribution.

In Dark Matter, the crew of a derelict spaceship is awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage charged with vengeance, betrayal and hidden secrets.”

Marc Bendavid as ONE (aka Jace Corso, aka Pretty Boy)

Charming but a bit of a goof, he is the crew’s moral center, a guy who always TRIES to do the right thing, despite the odds stacked against him and no matter how unpopular the course of action. He is a space cowboy, a bit of a daredevil, and the closest thing to a hero onboard the ship. Sure, he screws up – but he means well.

Melissa O’Neil as TWO (aka Portia Lin, aka Boss Lady)

The group’s defacto leader, she is a master fighter and an unbelievably quick learner when it comes to weaponry. Determined, tough, and more than a little headstrong, she is not the type you want to mess with – or disappoint. She can be cool and inscrutable and yet, at the same time, can demonstrate surprising compassion – the mark of true leader.

Anthony Lemke as THREE (aka Marcus Boone, aka Sunshine)

A true bad-ass, he is the flip side to ONE’s principled coin – which is why the two are often at odds, developing a (grudging) like-hate relationship over the course of their journey. He is mercenary through-and-through, a Hans Solo type, always looking out for himself. But he must come to accept the fact that, if he’s going to survive long enough to reach the outer colonies, he’s going to have to learn to get along.

Alex Mallari Jr. as FOUR (aka Ryo Tetsuda, aka Ryo Ishida)

Ever-stoic and a master of the blade, his cool, calm demeanor belies a ruthlessness that gives even his fellow crew members pause. He’s a man of few words but, when he does speak – just like when he fights – it’s with precise efficiency. A fierce and relentless opponent, he is also an equally loyal and passionate friend.

Jodelle Ferland as FIVE (aka Das, aka Kid)

The ship’s colorful mascot with a knack for mechanics, she’s also possessed of some mysterious abilities – like an inexplicable knowledge of past lives not her own.  She’s the kid with all the secrets. And a propensity for getting into trouble. Easily bored, quick to mouth off, she is nevertheless a relative innocent among less savory company.

Roger Cross as SIX (aka Griffin Jones)

On the surface he’s a low-key bruiser, an imposing figure among a group of intimidating individuals. Despite the company he keeps, he is a man of integrity with little patience for bullshit. Cross him at your own risk. Beneath the rough and tumble exterior, however, is a heart of gold – 14k, the softest! A surprisingly simple guy, his quiet confidence belies a fierce intelligence and philosophical nature.

 

Zoie Palmer as The Ship’s Android (aka The Android)

In personality, she is more butler-like than your typical robot – concise, staid, yet surprisingly possessed of a subtly wry sense of humor, she is an indispensible member of the crew since she can exercise control over all the ship’s systems. And she isn’t shy about reminding everyone of the fact. An outsider among the ship’s human passengers, she is almost child-like in her earnest desire to fit in.

Tagged: Dark Matter cast

December 17, 2014: Akemi scrooged! Everything is coming up Dark Matter!

So much for the Christmas spirit.  Today, Akemi did something she rarely ever does.  She actually bought herself something.  The girl hardly ever spends on herself but, this afternoon, she made an exception when she came across a cup emblazoned with the letter A at a local shop.  Being a big tea drinker – and having a name that starts with the letter A – she thought it would be perfect, so she bought it.  About an hour later, she was getting off the subway, when some guy, in an obvious rush, bumped into her, knocking her purchase out of her hand.  The guy didn’t even slow down, jumping into the car and heading off, leaving Akemi to check on her cup – which was, of course, shattered.  Her disappointment was apparently so apparent that a subway employee consoled her with a shoulder pat and some words of encouragement.

Still, in good spirits. And silly slippers.

Well, two more days until we depart for the holidays – which means roughly a week’s worth of ground to cover before we go.  In addition to tomorrow’s early EARLY morning tech survey (which leaves the production offices at 7:00 a.m., meaning I’ll have to leave my place at 6:30 a.m., meaning I’ll probably have to wake up for 5:45 a.m.), I’ve still got to do another pass on scripts for episodes #103, #104, #105, and #106, incorporate Jay’s notes into #107, #108, and #109, and get notes from Paul on #112.  Oh, and then there’s the meetings.  And the camera tests!  Today, Lawren, our VFX Supervisor, showed us some preliminary FTL (fast than light) effects as well as some animatics of the ship – and the missile pursuit.  Very cool.  I’m making a note to keep everything on file so that I can share with you all in time.

Meanwhile, the production offices are embracing the Dark Matter theme…

I need to place this on my dash, otherwise Vanessa will knock off my side mirror with a baseball bat.

Adorning the walls of the cafeteria

Bon Appetit!  Please note our strict no Facebook, no twitter, no photo policy.

And one more day for our Dark Matter Holiday Toy Drive!

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

December 16, 2014: Introducing 1st Asst. Art Director and Graphics Maestro Roxanne Borris!

I’ve only been working with her a couple of weeks and I already a huge, HUGE fan.

“Why?”you may ask.

Well, why don’t I just let her a few samples of her work answer that question…

Choices for the GA (Galactic Authority) emblem

Choices for some of the multi planetary (corporate) logos

“Caution” signs in English and our version of intergalactic Esperanto

Personally, I always find red goes a long way toward implied danger.

The galaxy is full of danger – often clearly marked. We opted for the one on the right.

She also designed our future currency – but those pictures are on my other laptop.  Do remind me to show you next time.

Tagged: Dark Matter