Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 411

September 30, 2014: My new mystery show!

Well, it’s actually a scifi series, but it IS a mystery insofar as no actual details have been released.  I’ve been told the network will only make an official announcement once the deal has been finalized – and it looks like those lawyers sure are being sticklers.  So…soon?

Certainly before we go to camera in early January.

I’m hoping.

To all those of you asking – yes, you’ll able to watch it when it premieres in summer of 2015.  Again, can’t offer much in the way of details but suffice it to say that if you’re able to read this blog, come next summer, you should be able to watch my new series.

Nothing in the way of real details, but I have told you that it’s a ship-based show. And that our cast will be made up of its seven crew members (six humans and an android).  Make of that what you will.

This Sunday, Paul and I catch a flight to Toronto where we’ll be convening with our fellow producers and department heads to discuss – well, on the docket: set design (interior builds, exterior VFX builds, the lighting concept, playback screens, exterior planet designs, spacesuits, weapons, special prop builds, and the general studio layout), locations, casting, production (directors, scheduling, crew, 2nd unit), post-production (schedule, editors, music), D.O.P. meetings, and budget.  And, when we have some free time, we’ll also squeeze in notes sessions on 6 to 9 scripts (depending on how many we’ll have completed by the time we hit Hogtown.

To this point, I’m not going to see it’s been easy (co-writing a pilot, developing a series, breaking a 13 episode first season, and writing four scripts), but I have been able to work from home, at my own pace.  But all that changes in October, first with those initial meetings, then when actual set construction begins at the end of the month.

I look forward to it but, on the other hand, am concerned about Akemi who will know no one in town and will be all by her lonesome (with the dogs of course).  It may not be a big deal during prep but, when production starts up and I’m leaving our place at 6:30 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. call and not getting home until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., I’m sure it’ll begin to take its toll.  Unlike our last stay in Toronto, we’ll be there during the dead of winter meaning a simple walk to St. Lawrence Market for that day’s groceries will be a truly frosty ordeal.  Sadly, most of our former Toronto friends have moved away.  So – I know, I know – it’s time to make new ones.  Easier said than done though.  But in the hopes of keeping Akemi happy and busy while I’m at work, I’m thinking of checking out a bunch of organized events and activities in the 2+ months prior to the commencement of principal photography – dining clubs, doggy get-togethers, maybe even a few Japanese-themed outings – with a mind to making a few connections.

I start my research tomorrow.  Any suggestions?

 

September 29, 2014: Akemi, kids, and dogs!

“I don’t know why I am so popular with kids and dogs,”Akemi mused today after our night out with friends Steve and Jodi and their daughter (Akemi’s new best buddy) Gemma.  And, after some consideration: “Maybe kids think I am kid and dogs think I am dog.”

Maybe.

Akemi claims she essentially re-set her age when she moved to Canada, effectively starting from scratch with a strange new culture and language.  So that explains her rapport with kids.  As for why dogs connect with her so easily?  Well, it could be her proclivity for snacking on their dry sardine treats.

Just finished a script rewrite today – and hope to start work on another one soon. This weekend, we brought an old friend onboard to help with design work and he turned around an awesome space station in record time.  Next up, he’s going to tackle our hero ship  – and, if he has time, two rival vessels.

Big day tomorrow as I attempt to book a Vancouver to Toronto flight for the six of us – three humans, and three dogs.

Speaking of dogs…

House (and bed) guest Petunia snuggles up with her favorite teddy bear.

Lulu – a little stiff.

Jelly reflects on another day’s work well done.

Bubba strikes a resplendent pose.

September 28, 2014: A Fantasytic Football Sunday!

We’re up!

After starting the fantasy football season by dropping our first two games (by a combined five points!), my Snow Monkeys have bounced back big time, winning last week and, today, racking up a lofty 136 points to cast to our second consecutive victory, knotting our record at 2-2.  I predict BIG things for this team.  We’re on a roll!  GO SNOW MONKEYS!

Today, we watched the games at Rob’s place where our affable host served up the perfect football feast -

Pulled pork tacos!

And, in case we were feeling guilty, the veggie platter.  Note: I wasn’t feeling THAT guilty.

And, for dessert, gluten-free pastries (compliments of Ivon), some of which didn’t exactly taste gluten-free, some of which did taste EXACTLY like gluten-free pastries.

So, how are your fantasy football teams doing?

September 27, 2014: My Favorite Movies By Genre!

These are mine…

ACTION

ADVENTURE

ANIMATION

COMEDY

CRIME

DRAMA

FANTASY

HORROR

SCIENCE FICTION (tie)

SUPERHERO

THRILLER

WAR (tie)

WESTERN

Tag!  You’re it!

September 26, 2014: Your continuing guide to Akemi-isms!

Please add to your ever-expanding glossary of Akemi-isms:

FIY = FYI

Gram molass = glamorous

Hinch = a hunch

Lettucehead = letterhead

Melancholy syndrome = depression

Rock work = Geology

Shoe fly = fruit fly

Snow killing = snorkeling

The Tim Hortons Team = Green Bay Packers

September 25, 2014: ECHO! ECHO…ECHo…ECho…Echo..gardiogram!

“Ah!   You have have a baby in your heart!”

- Akemi today after I told her about my echocardiogram.

Yes, today I went in for an echocardiogram, a procedure that uses sound waves to produce an image of the working heart.  Sort of like a pregnancy ultrasound – but different.  Still, that didn’t stop me from shouting: “It’s a boy!” when my heart came onscreen.

“You’ve had a heart murmur since you were thirteen,”said the sonographer, seeking to confirm what I’d already told my doctor.

“Yep.”

I remember running a gauntlet of tests in my early teens after complaining about my heart’s penchant for “skipping beats”.  At first, the doctors were dubious, initially dismissing my self-diagnosis as “gas probably” – so that when the results came back, “He’s got a slight murmur”, I was elated.  Yes!  Heart murmur!  I was right!

But, apparently, nothing to worry about.  Throughout most of my life, I hardly gave the occasional pause and staccato beats a second thought.  Then, enter the age of the internet and the ability to do a google search for keywords like “Arrhythmia” which lead to links like “Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia” which, in turn, leads to symptoms like: 1.  Irregular heart rhythms (check!), 2. Dizziness or lightheadedness (uh, check?), 3. Sudden cardiac death (uh…I think I would’ve remembered that one).

So, a couple of months ago, I went in for a comprehensive assessment survey that included a full physical which was comprised of, among other things, a stress test that involved me being hooked up to a heart monitor while I ran on a treadmill. Twice.  Well, officially once but they misplaced the results of my first test so I had to go in and do a second one.  Anyway, I’m no stranger to a treadmill workout so, all in all, I did pretty well.   We started at a brisk walking pace and incline, then increased the speed and steepness every three minutes.  I managed just under twenty-five torturous minutes (which was well above average by the way), and my test results showed “an excellent cardiopulmonary fitness level”.  BUT, just in case, I did mention my concerns to my doctor and he set up an echocardiogram for me.

And today was the day.  I lay on my side, my chest slathered with (probably) ectoplasm, while the sonographer prodded me with the probe (wand?  ding-dong?) and I tried to comprehend the incomprehensible onscreen images – and, when that clearly wasn’t working, shifted focus to scrute the inscrutable sonographer.

“So, what happens next?”I asked once we were done.

She informed me that the results would be sent to the cardiologist who would contact my doctor within a week with the results.

“And how do things look?”I tried.

“Oh, we’re not allowed to say anything,”she said.  “We could make an assumption about something and that could change upon further review.  Imagine me telling you something and then you finding out something else from your director.”

I told her I understood.  Completely.  Then threw her a change-up with a casual parting: “I’ll be hitting the treadmill tonight!”

“Sounds good,”she replied without missing a beat.

Damn.

In the months -long lead up to this test, I wasn’t at all concerned.  But a week is a LONG time to wait for – and think over those possible – test results!

And just a reminder!  One more day to bid on this:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stargate-SG-1-Script-034-Ripple-Effect-034-Signed-by-Producer-and-Writer-Joe-Mallozzi-/141415299954

September 24, 2014: October fast approaches!

I can’t believe September is almost done and, in a few weeks, I’ll be making the BIG move to Toronto – just in time for what’s predicted to be (and I quote) “the T-Rex of winters” (http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/t-rex-of-winters-in-store-for-canada-old-farmer-s-almanac-1.2012804#).  Of course, I’ll be spending most of it on a nice, cozy spaceship set.  Or, in a nice, cozy car on my way to a nice, cozy spaceship set.  On the one hand, the highway driving may be icy and treacherous; on the other hand, all of the lane shutdowns happening in Toronto will ensure that nobody will be going fast enough to suffer any real damage.

The plan is for Paul and I to fly over to Toronto the week of October 6th for some meetings covering everything from casting and scheduling to DOP’s and editors. I’m going to try to pack everything I’ll need for my 7 month Toronto stay into two suitcases I’ll be bringing with me on that initial trip.   Just the bare essentials: shirts, suits, ties, cufflinks, laptop.  I’ll try to buy everything else I’ll need – towels, toiletries, dog beds, workout wear – while I’m there that first week.  Between approving ship designs and interviewing Directors of Photography, I’ll be hitting the Eaton Center for dress socks and warm underwear!

We fly back to Vancouver at the end of that week and then I’ll have all of the following week to get my local affairs in order, hand off the house keys to my former dog sitter who will become a house sitter until May of next year, and then make the final trip eastward (for 2014 anyway), dogs in tow the weekend of October 18th.  Our friend Jeff has kindly offered to help transport the pooches so, once we firm up a date, I’ll get on the phone with the airline and book the flight with the roomiest under-seats.  I believe the rules allow for only one dog (as carry-on) per person, and limit pets to a mere two in business class and two in coach.  If that’s the case, Jeff (and Lulu) will be flying in style while Akemi, Bubba, Jelly and I squeeze into economy.  I’m considering purchasing extra seats, just in case.  I have to admit, getting my dogs cross-country is the most stressful aspect of this whole Toronto production.

I’m aiming to have 9 of our 13 first season scripts completed by the time we land in Toronto, October 6th.  Paul did a brilliant job on the delightfully creepy episode #5 that went out today and is presently revising episode #6.  Rob is working on his first draft of episode #7 while I do a pass on Trevor’s draft of episode #8.  And, of course, I already completed episode #9 which sits, patiently waiting to be read.

We’ve approached the first season like a book, the thirteen episodes the equivalent to chapters in an extended story.  We set up a big mystery in the opener, one we’ll develop over the course of the first year and, eventually, pay off BIG in the finale. The great thing about having all 13 episodes in advance (besides the obvious production advantages) is that we’ll be able to read the entire first season from beginning to end, tweaking where necessary to ensure a gripping, well-developed narrative layered with intriguing set-ups and surprising/satisfying pay-offs.   It also allows our Visual Effects team (lead by former Stargate VFX Supervisor Mark Savela and this show’s VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson) and Playback department to get a jump start on those visual effects and awesome onscreen images.  And having those nine episodes in the bank for early October also allows us to choose the perfect sides for each character audition – and there will be plenty: six crew members plus that, uh, non-human character.

We’ve got half our directors in place and you’ll, no doubt, recognize a few familiar names.  Very much looking forward to working with them again.  It’s been WAY too long.

My biggest point of focus from now until mid-December will be those sets. Construction begins on the ship, shuttle, and space station in late October and I need them to look truly awesome.  Also, I’ll need to make sure the shuttle is heated, with a  roll-out bed and working bathroom because chances are, if the shoots run late, that’s where I’ll be spending most of my nights.

Tagged: film & television, scifi television, SF television

September 23, 2014: Resident Film Critic Cookie Monster Returns and Reviews Man of Steel!

Monster spend last few months on vakation where me bone up on cursive writing, try all tree boardings – wake, paddle, and water for first time (Me MUCH prefer first two!), and generally healing from mental scars inflikted by 94 straight weeks of Supermovie reviews.  Now me back after much-needed R&R (Rest and Remi Martin) and rarin’ to go!

Watching dis movie be like taking in spectakular fireworks show.  In sepia.  While your girlfriend breaks up wit you over de phone.  For two and a half hours.

Movie open on alien world Kripton where scientist Kal-El inform ruling council planet be doomed because of environment (Al Gore-El was right!).  Meeting interrupted by rebellious General Zod and co. who stage coup.  He offer Kal-El to trow in wit him, but Kal-El refuse.  Den have to eskape and get chased back to his home (Couldn’t he have just said “Okay, me wit you?” and den snuck back nice an easy?  No?) where he launch his son away in a space ship wit someting called “De Codex”!

Zod and co. be captured and punished by getting encased in giant vibrators before being fired into De Phantom Zone.  And den Kripton explodes.

Nooo! Not de vibrator rockets!

On Earth, years later, Kal-El’s son grow up to become Clark, handsome shirtless guy who save co-workers from oil rig fire before washing up on shore somewhere and steal somebody’s clothes (THIEVERY!  SUPERMAN BE A THIEF!).

His shirt got burned off in de fire. His beard and pants be just fine tho!

Flashback to young Clark who get picked on all de time, saves skool bus full of kids, and be super-hypersensitive to EVERYTING – like dat time monster ate 6 boxes of Oreos and suddenly able to hear people’s hair grow.  And bee farts.

Flashforward to Clark working at diner.   Customer give him a hard time.  So he destroy guy’s truck (MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY!  SUPERMAN BE A VANDAL!).

Military discover strange objekt buried in 20 000 year old ice in Arctic.  Dey be VERY sekretive and maintain AAA security, only letting ONE snoopy reporter (Lois Lane) onto site and one guy who presumably wander on wit no background check (Clark), and den allowing BOTH to get on buried objekt…which aktually be a ship! Clark awaken it, save Lois from floaty cobra robot, den drop her off before flying ship away to somewhere inept military unable to track it (say, other side of de mountain).  Hologram of Kal-El fill Clark in on his backstory after which Clark puts on super suit, flies around, and crashes.  Dis be de ONE fun beat in otherwise bleak movie.

Flashback to young Clark fleeing tornado wit his family.  Dad goes back to save dog in car and injures ankle.  Cars and tankers get blown around by wind but, for some reason, dad rooted to spot like he built into ground.  Clark wants to save him but Dad waves him away.  Naaah, don’t bother.  So he die.  And Clark left feeling guilty for not helping.  Tanks, Dad.

Flashforward to news reports.  Space ship heading for Earth!   Creepy cool message from General Zod demand Earth turn over Clark.  Clark turn himself into military – who turn him over to Zod.  And Zod demand Lois as well.  Why?  Beats monster.

Clark taken up on ship where become weak and experimented on.  Lois locked up but, luckily, she have Kal-El hologram device dat Clark slip her (Guess he had hunch to bring it along and give it to her – just in case!).  Hologram Kal-El save her.  Ish.  She get in pod and plummet to Earth.  Clark regain super strength for reasons monster not exaktly clear on,  den save falling Lois IN DE NICK OF TIME!

Turns out Zod plan to terraform Earth and repopulate it wit Kriptonians kept in “De Codex” much like plot of dat episode of Stargate, Scorched Earth.  After all, if dey keep Earth as is and not terraform, dey would ALL be a bunch of supermen – and who wants dat?

Clark fly to town and take on Zod’s soldiers, getting into fistfight at IHop just like us regular folks!

While Zod initiate terraforming machine and start killing thousands of citizens, Superman on other side of planet destroying another tingie (Yo, super dude. Priorities!).  Military manage to destroy terraform machine on their own (Tanks for nothing!) and Lois plummet from back of plane.  Clark sweep in and save her IN DE NICK OF TIME!

Hurray!  Superman to de reskue…uh, too late. Never mind.

Showdown wit Zod!  Mayhem!  Destruktion!  Thousands more killed!  (Yo, super dude.  Couldn’t you take dis somewhere else?  Space?  De desert?  Out over de ocean?)

Finally, he defeat Zod by cleverly…breaking his neck.  Wait!  What?!  Superman kill Zod?!  (KILLING!  SUPERMAN BE A MURDERER!).  Okay, okay.  Mebbe dis be new version of Superman.  He killed Zod and clearly anguished about it.  Rest of movie will explore heavy burden of murder on his conscience.

Or not.

Clark gets job as reporter working wit Lois.  (OBSESSED!  SUPERMAN BE A STALKER!)

De End.

Overall, everyting make story sense (more or less) and performances pretty good, but dis be filmic equivalent of having to attend an uncle’s funeral at Six Flags.  Wit unbelievable romantic B story tacked on.

VERDIKT: Dis not your father’s Superman. Or your grandfather’s superman. Hell, when it come right down to it, dis not Superman at all. It be a movie about some other guy with super powers.

RATING: 6 chocolate chipped cookies.

Tagged: Cookie Monster, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews Man of Steel, Man of Steel, movie reviews, super movie, superhero movies, Superman

September 22, 2014: The New Fall Line-Up!

Here are a few of the new shows I’ll be checking out…

GRACEPOINT

Premieres: Thurs., Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. on FOX

I loved the premise of the original, Broadchurch, but was disappointed in the finale.  Apparently, this one is the same premise – with a different solution.  And it’s a self-contained 10 episode mystery.  I’m intrigued.

GOTHAM

Premiered: Tonight (Monday, Sept. 22 at 8:00 p.m. on FOX)

Okay, I’m not a fan of prequels, but I was a fan of Gotham Central, the comic book series that focused on the unsung heroes of the Gotham PD.

CONSTANTINE

Premieres: Fri., Oct. 24 at 10:00 p.m. on NBC)

Another comic book-based series.  The subject matter is dark and perfectly suited for cable.  How will it fare on network?  I’m on the fence.

THE MISSING

Premieres: Sat., Nov. 15 at 9:00 p.m. on Starz)

Another limited mystery series, this eight episode drama is told in two parallel time frames, focusing on a father’s search for his young son who went missing while on holiday in France five years earlier.

So, what are you watching?

September 21, 2014: Again! Back on the home front!

Both Akemi and I managed to sleep through most of our 9 hour flight back so that, by the time we landed at 9:30 this morning, we were well-rested and rarin’ to go! Well, I was anyway.  Akemi decided to lie down for a little while and, seven hours later, came downstairs looking like a hurricane survivor – hair-disheveled, a stunned look on her face.  She’s wide awake now and I have a feeling she’ll be wide awake well into the wee hours of tomorrow morning.

The dogs were thrilled to see us.  Bubba was especially vocal, howling with delight and then crawling into bed and snoozing the afternoon away with Akemi.  Lulu sunbathed and Jelly modelled her new outfits:

Finally, my Snow Monkey clawed out their  first win of this young Fantasy Football season, improving their record to a note entirely unrespectable 1-2!

Tomorrow…back to work!

Hey!  Go bid on this signed, annotated script: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stargate-SG-1-Script-034-Ripple-Effect-034-Signed-by-Producer-and-Writer-Joe-Mallozzi-/141415299954