Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 430
March 27, 2014
March 27, 2014: April under-the-radar releases to look forward to! Or not!
DOM HEMINGWAY
Release Date: April 2, 2014
What it’s about: Following a near-death experience, an ex-felon safecracker attempts to re-connect with his estranged daughter – and pull off one final score.
What it’s got working for it: The trailer suggests a movie with a Sexy Beast, Layer Cake, Lock Sock and Two Smoking Barrels feel. Three movies I quite enjoyed.
What’s it’s got going against it: I’m admittedly reluctant to embrace Jude Law as an aging tough. But I’m perfectly willing to be won over.
THE GALAPAGOS AFFAIR: SATAN COMES TO EDEN
Release Date: April 4, 2014
What it’s about: A documentary on the true life 1930′s murder mystery on the Galapagos Island.
What it’s got working for it: It’s like a very dark Gilligan’s Island.
What’s it’s got going against it: The fact that the truth surrounding the strange events remains a mystery could leave some viewers unsatisfied.
GOODBYE WORLD
Release Date: April 4, 2014
What it’s about: The internet crashes. Society soon follows.
What it’s got working for it: Rather than focusing on the large-scale destruction of our civilization, this movie instead tells a more personal story about a close-knit group trying to weather the storm.
What it’s got going against it: The trailer doesn’t pack the promised weight.
UNDER THE SKIN
Release Date: April 4, 2014
What it’s about: An alien predator takes human form to hunt her prey but, in time, begins to embrace her humanity.
What it’s got working for it: Looks spooky. And unique.
What it’s got going against it: It faces the challenge of covering ground already well worn by the Species series.
WATERMARK
Release Date: April 4, 2014
What it’s about: From the barren desert delta to the biggest arch dam in the world, this documentary studies our relationship with water.
What it’s got working for it: Shot in 5k ultra high def. Stunning scenery.
What it’s got going against it: It’s a movie about water. 90 minutes worth of interesting? Maybe.
A FRAGILE TRUST
Release Date: April 11, 2014
What it’s about: The story of Jayson Blair, one of the most shocking serial plagiarists in history.
What it’s got working for it: The curiosity factor. How did he get away with it for so long?
What it’s got going against it: Hopefully not a movie that celebrates this word thief.
13 SINS
Release Date: April 18, 2014
What it’s about: A down on his luck salesman is offered rewards for the completion of 13 sinister tasks.
What it’s got working for it: An intriguing premise.
What it’s got going against it: Nicholas Cage has never been all that picky about the types of movies he’ll do. Could be very interesting. Or just plain awful.
PROXY
Release Date: April 18, 2014
What it’s about: Two women in a support group form a bond that engenders dark consequences.
What it’s got working for it: Looks like a suspenseful thriller. In the tradition of Single White Female?
What it’s got going against it: The performances seem a little shaky…but it could just be the edit.
Tagged: 13 Sins, A Fragile Trust, Don Hemingway, Goodbye World, Proxy, The Galapagos Affair: Satan Comes to Eden, Under the Skin, Watermark
March 26, 2014
March 26, 2014: April movie releases to look forward to! Or not!
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
Release Date: April 3, 2014
What it’s about: Captain America teams up with the Black Widow and the Falcon to unravel a mysterious conspiracy and battle an enigmatic enemy known as…The Winter Soldier.
What it’s got working for it: The trailer suggests a good-looking movie.
What’s it’s got going against it: Also looks a little hokey.
DRAFT DAY
Release Date: April 11, 2014
What it’s about: The general manager of the Cleveland Browns attempts to pull of a huge deal on draft day.
What it’s got working for it: The rare participation of the NFL in a feature film. And some possible insight into the draft day process.
What’s it’s got going against it: Given the NFL’s participation, don’t expect any hard-hitting or surprising insights.
OCULUS
Release Date: April 11, 2014
What it’s about: Ten years after the disappearance of their parents, a brother and sister look for answers in an antique mirror.
What it’s got working for it: There is that promisingly cool scene where the brother and sister see themselves through the open window.
What’s it’s got going against it: Everything else in that trailer? Been there; seen that.
RIO 2
Release Date: April 11, 2014
What it’s about: Those birds from the first movie vacation in the amazon.
What it’s got working for it: If you like the first one, you’ll probably enjoy the sequel as well.
What’s it’s got going against it: The trailer? Let’s assume they’re saving the funny bits for the actual big screen experience.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
Release Date: April 16, 2014
What it’s about: A boy survives a near-death experience and returns with knowledge of things he couldn’t possibly know about.
What it’s got working for it: An interesting and hopeful premise. ”Inspired by a true story”.
What’s it’s got going against it: The more pessimistic will question the honesty of the source material.
THE RETRIEVAL
Release Date: April 18, 2014
What it’s about: In 1864, a young African-American boy is enlisted by bounty hunters to entrap a fugitive freedman.
What it’s got working for it: An interesting dilemma for our young hero who must struggle to choose between fear and respect, old and newfound loyalties.
What’s it’s got going against it: If you watch the trailer, you’ll note he doesn’t struggle very long. Looks fairly straightforward.
TRANSCENDENCE
Release Date: April 18, 2014
What it’s about: The singularity is here! A scientist becomes the surprising catalyst for the Artificial Intelligence he seeks to create.
What it’s got working for it: Not exactly original, but Johnny Depp’s involvement holds promise.
What’s it’s got going against it: Remember The Tourist? Dark Shadows?
BRICK MANSIONS
Release Date: April 18, 2014
What it’s about: In one of his final films, Paul Walker plays an undercover cop who must team with an ex-con to take on a ruthless criminal hiding within the walls of a fortified future Detroit.
What it’s got working for it: Luc Besson’s movies can be fun (ie. The Professional, The Transporter, The Fifth Element).
What’s it’s got going against it: And, other times, horrendous. Anybody catch The Family?
Tagged: Brick Mansion, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Draft Day, Heaven is for Real, Oculus, Rio 2, The Retrieval, Transcendence
March 25, 2014
March 25, 2014: Meet and Greet! And Stand and Wait!
Today, I attended an industry meet and greet. A rarity for me because I tend to find these “informal” get-togethers uncomfortable, earnest, awkward, and always permeated by that unmistakable stench of desperation. ”Hi, I’m Bill Swizby! Love your show! I hope to one day write for a production of equally high calibre!” (subtext: ”Hi! I live in my mother’s basement and my single daily meal usually consists of liquid cheese. PLEASE, give me a job!”).
To be fair, there’s no shame in networking, and people who are good at meeting people tend to do well in this business, often making up for a lack of talent by having the right connections. The sad reality is that as much as WE all loved Stargate, no one in Los Angeles really knows the show and no one in Toronto seems to care. People aren’t going to hire you if they don’t know who you are so it’s not a bad idea to put a face to name on the script and make a good impression. My problem is that the individuals I tend to make a good impression on are the people who can’t really help me out in that regard, fellow writers or production personnel who I end up chatting with for the simple reason that…they’re fun to talk to. This afternoon, for instance, I met a wonderful VFX guy, a lovely freelance writer, and a positively delightful coordinator who – bonus! – also happened to be a huge Stargate: Universe fan. None of the aforementioned will help me sell a show, but they’ll all, no doubt, make great company over a few rounds.
Early on, during the scrum for seats, I did manage to flag down one network executive and had a brief and pleasant chat with her, but that was about the extent of my accomplishments on this day. Okay, that’s not exactly true. I managed to sit through the panel without fidgeting too much. And I did have that big chocolate chip cookie.
I did make an effort. Once the formalities wrapped, I stood around in five minutes increments, waiting to talk just quickly introduce myself say goodbye to the various network execs. No dice. It was like a wedding procession where you’re waiting for the groom’s drunk roommate to move along so that you can hand over your envelope. One fellow was like a mime on crank, wide-eyed, animated, gesticulating wildly, commanding undivided attention. Another couple, from a local production house, took a page out of the Brooklyn Nets playbook and actually boxed me out when I approached. THEY had gotten to there first and they weren’t sharing!
So I finished my big cookie and went home.
If nothing else, today’s experience did provide me with some invaluable pointers for the next meet and greet:
#1. Sit close to the front and wear comfortable shoes so that you can outrace the other attendees to your target.
#2. The complimentary baked goods are a planned distraction on the part of your enemies.
#3. Laughing at absolutely everything anyone says is no guarantee people are going to like you.
#4. Wear something distinct that will set you apart from the crowd AND leave an impression (ie. a monocle or hip waders).
#5. Find creative ways to monopolize your target’s attention and keep your rivals at bay. This, for instance, is a design I’m working on for next time which incorporates tip #4 as well:
℅ heroesofnewerth.com (KhaosTarakhe)
#6: Be interesting. Or do something interesting that you can talk about on the day (ie. invent a popular app, save a life, learn to drive a rig, etc.)
#7: In the unlikely event you aren’t interesting (and can’t manufacture it), then make sure your pitch and/or script is interesting.
#8: Finally, in the unfortunate event neither you nor the project your pitching is interesting, make the best of things by stocking up on those complimentary baked goods and coffee.
March 24, 2014
March 24, 2014: Notes of interest! And on notes!
It’s the routine on practically every production I’ve worked on: 1. Writers receive notes. 2. Writers get on the phone to discuss notes with executives. 3. Writers do (ish) the notes. But, in my later years on Stargate, I decided to implement a new policy. I started giving notes on the notes I received (let’s call this step in the process 1b). I always found it much easier to present concise, logically considered written arguments for how we could or, alternately, why we should not incorporate certain suggestions/requests/demands into a script. Certainly MUCH easier than verbally winging it on a conference call free-for-all. Oh, we would still have the conference calls – but at least they’d be more focused and, thankfully, a hell of a lot shorter. Anyway, providing notes on notes is something I’ve continued to do ever since. Well, today I was on a lengthy conference call in which I was given input on how to best present my latest notes on the notes I received last week. Yes, as Akemi pointed out at dinner, I received notes on my notes on notes. I couldn’t help but wonder if the person I was speaking to was advised on how best to approach delivering the suggested changes to my original email. Now THAT would have been awesome: notes on notes on notes on notes.
Only in this business.
Well, this is nice. A happy ending for the senior citizens who lost their dog, Buddy, to an “animal rescue” earlier this year (background: http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/january-26-2014-dog-matters-whats-up-with-the-humane-alliance-of-rutherford-county/).
Buddy is back home (https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringbuddybackhome/?ref=br_tf)
Now there’s the matter of the other twenty or so dogs being held by The Humane Alliance of Rutherford County: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeTheDogs/?ref=br_tf
Ah, everything old is new again! Study Questions Fat and Heart Disease Link
“Many of us have long been told that saturated fat, the type found in meat, butter and cheese, causes heart disease. But a large and exhaustive new analysis by a team of international scientists found no evidence that eating saturated fat increased heart attacks and other cardiac events.”
I’m convinced that if we wait long enough, eventually boomerangs and drive-ins will come back in style!
March 23, 2014
March 23, 2014: Lulu and I will sleep well tonight!
What an incredibly productive day. I had to wake up at 7:00 a.m. this morning to bring Jelly out but, rather than go back to bed, I elected to stay up and get some work done on one of my new pilots. The plan was to complete a single flashback sequence but one scene led to another (as they’re supposed to do), I got on a bit of roll and, before I knew it, I’d finished a little over 15 pages and reached the top of the third act. I would honestly feel better about it if I knew the crucial details of Acts IV and V, but I’m not going to be greedy. I do like what I have so far. It’s crazy. In a great way. Hopefully, a network out there will love it as well. But, if not, I think I might actually upload this one to the blog. It’s too much fun not to share.
In addition to writing, I also made time to bring Lulu to the local bulldog meetup. Some of the highlights…
Lulu seeking attention #1.
Lulu seeking attention #2
Lulu seeking attention #3
Lulu seeking attention #4
Lulu needs braces
And the inevitable pawsticuffs…
And this interesting move…
Tagged: bulldogs, Dogs, french bulldogs, Vancouver bulldogs, Vancouver french bulldogs
March 22, 2014
March 22, 2014: My Top 10 Pie Countdown!
#10
Apple pie a la mode
#9
@AprilAthena7.com
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream
#8
Mississippi mud pie
#7
Banana cream pie
#6
Tourtiere
#5
http://www.circle-b-kitchen.squarespace.com
Sugar pie
#4
Joe’s Stone Crab key lime pie
#3
Cherry pie a la mode
#2
Pecan pie
#1
Blueberry pie a la mode
And one I’m looking forward to checking out:
Buttermilk bourbon pie (Buttermilk Bourbon Pie)
Agree? Fiercely disagree? Let’s see you vehemently defend your favorite pie!
March 21, 2014
March 20, 2014
March 20, 2014: News of note!
I’m no “expert”, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say no to both.
Those who make fun of FOX News clearly have not taken the time to check out CNN lately or, as I like to call it, The Jodi Arias Missing Malaysian Airline Network. Their anchors are always indignant, voicing their theatrical outrage about something or other. But, every so often, we’re treated to actual hard news. Like the other day, for instance, when viewers received confirmation that Flight 370 was probably NOT swallowed by a black hole. I know, I know. It seems like a reach, but it’s good to get that reassurance. : Anchor Don Lemon asked the, uh, “experts” the hard-hitting question: “Is it preposterous?”: CNN’s Don Lemon: ‘Is It Preposterous’ to Think a Black Hole Caused Flight 370 to Go Missing? As it turns out – Yes, yes it is, Don. Also, not to nitpick the “expert”, but equally preposterous is the notion that a small black hole would “suck in our entire universe”.
Mmmm. What’s cooking? Oh? Your damp socks?
Imagine how much weight Jared would have lost if he’d eaten these instead? http://metro.co.uk/2014/03/18/was-it-a-footlong-subway-worker-caught-drying-her-wet-socks-in-bread-oven-4642098/
Then what is it? Find out here: Don’t trust your eyes! Let these unique pieces of art challenge your perception of reality
A little girl and her dog. [Note to Das: Not sad. Okay to click!] http://www.boredpanda.com/harper-lola-dog-friendship-rebecca-leimbach/
Who are the bitchiest most defensive fans in America? Jut in time for March Madness, Deadspin breaks down their Bitchy Brackets. http://deadspin.com/who-are-the-bitchiest-most-defensive-fans-in-america-1542968511. I’m taking Paleo Dieters to pulls the first round upset over New Jerseyites.
Kids are leaving Facebook. Where are they going? The answer may surprise you:
Via our pal Martin Gero: Another reason you should be eating dark chocolate. http://io9.com/why-dark-chocolate-is-so-damn-good-for-you-1546437895
And, on the other hand, there’s this study: Study Links Meat, Sugar Consumption To Early Death Among Those Who Choose To Be Happy In Life
In the unlikely event I missed some news of note, please enlighten us in the comments section of this blog.
March 19, 2014
March 19, 2014: Expressions I really hate!
DON’T use these around me. You’ve been warned!
Amazeballs: This was amusing for about twelve hours back in 2009.
Redonkulous: Really? You’re still quoting a characters from FOX’s defunct The O.C.?
Addicting: I’ve mentioned this one several times. The word you’re looking for is addictive.
Frak: Yeah. I get it. You like science fiction. And, while it may have been cool on t.v., it’s less cool in public. Trust me.
Sweet: Especially when attempted with an Eric Cartman inflection.
OMG, LOL, and any other online short-hard incorporated into an actual conversation.
Literally: 9 times out of 10, you actually mean “figuratively”. If it’s the 1 out of 10 times it does make sense, then it’s unnecessary.
Good for you!: I can’t imagine a more patronizing expression.
That’s what SHE said: I was willing to let this one go for duration of The Office’s run on NBC (and that was being generous since the character of Michael Scott, who popularized this phrase, left the show two years before it’s final episode), but enough is enough.
Should of, Could of, and varied improper uses of the world “of”: It’s actually “should’ve” and “could’ve” (short for “should HAVE” and “could HAVE”).
March 18, 2014
March 18, 2014: Casual dining, out and at home! Dogs snacking on phyllo crisps!
I checked the mailbox today where I discovered a note from Canada Post informing me that they tried to deliver a package yesterday morning but no one was home. If I wanted to pick up the parcel, I could do so at the nearby post office. ”Package for me?”asked Akemi as I walked back into the house.
“No,”I said. ”It’s for me.” And showed her the note. It read: “Akemi’s Joseph Mallozzi.”
“But the package is for me,”she insisted. ”It’s from my father in Japan.”
“Maybe,”I said, “but it says Akemi’s Joseph Mallozzi. And since I am YOUR Joseph Mallozzi, that means it’s for me.”
“Do you think I’ll have to show my I.D. to pick it up? Or should you bring your I.D.?”
“I think we should both bring our I.D. You have to prove you’re Akemi and then I have to prove I’m Joseph Mallozzi. After all, I could be anyone’s Joseph Mallozzi.”
So we went to the post office and picked up the package which ended up containing items for both of us: lipstick for her, green tea for both of us, and…
Joe and Hers chopsticks. Check ‘em out. They have my name on them. ”Why my name is not on the other chopsticks?”wondered Akemi.
Beats me. ”Maybe he forgot your name?” She frowned but I cheered her up by promising to etch her name into her chopstick with my exacto knife later this week.
Also in the package, for me, were this set of hiragana/katakana/workbooks.
I imagine that, at some point last month, the family was going through all the signatures in Akemi’s sister’s wedding book and came across what no doubt looked like a child’s scrawl, or the Japanese script of a plucky dimwit. Upon closer scrutiny, however, they no doubt realized it was neither A nor B but C) A spirited attempt to spell the name “Joe” by yours truly. Clearly horrified, they decided to send me these in preparation for the next big family event.
I’m thinking of starting an occasional Best of Vancouver column in which I highlight the city’s best. The best place to go for chocolate. The best place to go for chocolate desserts. The best place to go for hot chocolate. The best place to go for non-chocolate anything. One of the places that may well make the list of Best Places to go for a cheap eats is the Congee House on East Broadway. The other day, Akemi and I stopped by for a tasty lunch of…
Crispy pork on rice. How do they get the skin so light and crispy? Every attempt we’ve made to replicate our pork skin has failed miserably – and, in some instances, painfully.
Congee. I like mine with those century eggs (that, it sadly turns out aren’t 1000 years old at all but just a few months old as that’s how long it takes for the egg to incorporate aspects of the clay and ash in which it’s been preserved).
And back on the home front…
Akemi loves making this phyllo-layered pastry pizza.
While I tried my hand at gumbo.
And, since Akemi was in the mood for something raw – tuna sashimi with avocado on rice.
In the spirit of Dogs Eating Ice Cream, I present Dogs Eating Phyllo Crisps…
It never fails. No matter what she eats, Jelly invariably ends up with food on her face.
Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regulars Das and birthday boy Woody Woodward!
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