Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 531

July 13, 2011: Akemi's panties! Trevor's baby's name! Car Stunt Maestro Michel Julienne!

Okay.  As promised the other day, here is a peek at Akemi's new panties.  The pattern resembles what I'd imagine a drug addict would hallucinate during a bad trip: mushrooms, insects, snakes, and clouds, furry fearsomes, flying tweens, and sackfuls of love.

Well, the votes have been tabulated in the Name Trevor's Baby contest and we have a winner!  The results…

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Coming in at #5: Oprah.  Sadly, my favorite was never really in contention and finished a distant last.

At #4: Muff.  I know, I know.  Many of you thought it was a horrible name, especially for a girl – but when you consider Trevor's last name is Finn, it was, in hindsight, quite appropos.

In the #3 spot: Trouble.  I would have gone with this one for the occasional opportunity to shout "Here comes Trouble!" in advance of the kid's appearance – everywhere!

At #2: Spearmint.  Damn!  This one was mine.  I wouldn't be surprised if Gwyneth Paltrow steals it for the name of her next child.

And our winner……

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#1: Eufemia!  I was all on board when I was under the assumption this was a disease but, apparently, it's just a name.  A really silly name.  Oh well.

Eufemia Finn it is!  Now, all Trevor has to do is break the news to his wife!

Yesterday, I got to meet a legend – the Car Stunt Maestro himself – Michel Julienne…

Holy Smokes!  What a nice, soft-spoken, good-humored fellow.  Really looking forward to working with him.

Speaking of work – I apologize these blog entries haven't been as involved as usual, but I've been up to my eyeballs in most every aspect of prep and production on our new series, The Transporter.  Worked on the rewrite of episode #5, re-read and provided input on episode #4, had an advance visual effects meeting for episode #2 (12 Hours), fielded about three dozen emails, and checked out and made my selections on the first wave of auditions for 12 Hours.  Going to take a break to walk the dogs and then I'm back at it.  If it wasn't for the need to eat, sleep, walk the dogs, and pay some attention to an increasingly isolated and lonely girlfriend, I'd be on this 24/7.  

July 12, 2011: And we're off!

Today, I had a discussion about the casting of a minor recurring character.

An ALL DAY DISCUSSION!

At one point, I considered making an executive decision to rewrite the role for my dog Maximus (see his head shot in my blog banner).  In the end, however, I opted to table the discussion to focus on other pressing matters like that rewrite of episode #2 ("12 Hours") and, of course, lunch -

A rare behind-the-scenes pic of yours truly – in this case, enjoying our catered Mexican lunch.  Look at how I'm savoring that refried bean wrap!

Later in the afternoon, I swung by set to check out the first day of production on the pilot, getting there just in time to catch our Frieder doing his nefarious strut. He is PERFECT (ly diabolical)!  I hung around until Andy Mikita chased me – and a pack of pesky pigeons – away…

 Okay, one more.  This time smiling…

Better!

Check out the dogs!

July 11, 2011: The storm before the storm!

Okay.  I think I'm just going to open up a little comic book and genre book shop in Vancouver.

Sometime in 2012.

Maybe sooner.

Hey, check it out.  Look at what Akemi made Alexander.  He was, of course, thrilled.

As were my co-workers because, as planned, I brought in my homemade truffles this morning.

Talk about karma.  No sooner did I drop off the chocolates in the kitchen than I ran into Mega who had a treat for me.  Macarons!

No calm before the storm.  Actually a completely different storm before the storm.  Tomorrow, we start shooting the pilot.  Today, we discussed costumes, tone meetings, production strategy, script revisions, timings, boards, character backstories, arcs, and the perils of shoe buckles.  We also found time to pay a little visit to set…

Time Bider, Master of Ceremonies

The BIG stage

Frank's pool

Future car exteriors

I got home for 7:30, had to deal with the outstanding issues that followed me home, ate, then spent two hours writing an email.

Let's end today's entry on a high note – Akemi in the new apron her mom sent her from Japan.

Tomorrow, we check out her new panties.

July 10, 2011: Truffles or script rewrites. It's your call!

Since I spent a significant part of my Saturday doing a pass on episode #2 and writing up the one-page overview for episode #10, I decided to kick back on Sunday by switching gears and starting the rewrite of episode #5.  I know, I know.  What the hell am I doing working through the weekend?  Well, besides the fact that it's crunch time and – apparently – these scripts aren't going to rewrite and prep themselves, the truth is it's next to impossible to get any writing done at the office. There are just so many distractions to contend with that it's near impossible to get on a roll.

Anyway, as much as I hate rewriting my own stuff (Not because I'm precious, mind you, but because I spend so much time and effort constructing a scene, establishing a natural dramatic progression and rhythm for the dialogue, that changing what's there is like trying to remove one of the lower blocks in a game of Jenga.  A single seemingly inconsequential shift is enough to bring down the entire structure.), I REALLY hate rewriting Paul because his scripts are exceptionally tight.  Tweaks you figure should take you two or three hours tops become grueling two to three day marathon sessions.

I made it as far as the end of the second act before running out of steam.  At which point I realized my talking about working through the weekend would make for a mighty uninteresting blog post – so I took Akemi up on her suggestion and make truffles.

Milk-chocolate rum pistachio-studded truffles.

As impressive as it may sound, the truth is making truffles is actually quite easy.  Chopped up about 225 grams of chocolate.  Heat up a 1/2 cup of heavy cream, then pour of the chocolate, whisking it to a silky smoothness.

Some recipes call for butter, but I don't bother.  Add liquor, if you're so inclined, then pop in the refrigerator for a few hours and allow it to firm up.

Chicory dark chocolate cocoa nib-studded truffles dusted with powdered sugar.

Once the two hours are up, take your chocolate out of the refrigerator, let rest for five minutes, then start rolling.  Akemi prefers the double spoon method she perfected while working at the Pierre Marcolini Cafe in Ginza…

 Once those truffles are rolled, give them a second roll in a coating of your choosing.  In the past, I've used everything from cocoa powder to toasted coconut.

Akemi's white chocolate-marscapone cocoa powder-dusted truffles.

Pop them in the refrigerator, allow them to cool for another hour and – voila!  Serve as dessert.  Or, if you're feeling generous, bring them into work on Monday and treat your friends.  Tell them "I've done you a favor.  Next time, it'll be your turn to do ME a favor."  Later that week when you're looking at a full day of prep meetings, guess who's sitting in for you?

Akemi's Earl Grey milk chocolate tatami truffles.

Akemi's black and white chocolate.

 So who's gonna sit in on this Tuesday's visual effects meeting for me?

Oops! Almost forgot. Dark chocolate Guinness truffles!

July 9, 2011: Transporter production update!

The production train is about to leave the station!  All aboard who's coming aboard!  Everyone else get the f*ck out of the way.  Move or be REmoved!

We're now two days away from the start of main unit principal photography on Transporter and I feel like I'm in the heart of a maelstrom.  Time to dispense with the niceties and step up.  From here on in, all paths – creative, production, or otherwise – lead through us.  And by "us", I mean Alexander, Paul, and me.  It's been a whirlwind four months, but they'll be nothing compared to the five months that lie ahead.

Alexander – Episode timing and preliminary schedule in tow, starts his pass on episode #7.  Time to reconsider the B-story and streamline the narrative.  Once he's done with that, he's got to get moving on writing episode #8.

Paul – Up to his eyeballs in prep for episode #1 ("Pilot") alongside Stephen, the episode director.  We had the read-thru on Wednesday and now it's the final push of meetings, rehearsals, fight training, and stunt planning before this baby goes to camera on Tuesday.  Paul, as the episode's Supervising Producer, will be on set for its entirety.  Hope his laptop is charged up as he's still got the rewrite of episode #4 on his plate.

As for me – no sooner did I put out new drafts of episode #2 ("12 Hours") and #6 than I received another batch of notes.  Spent last night doing another pass on the former and am patiently awaiting feedback on the latter.  In the meantime, I'm about to start a rewrite on episode #5.  A pass on episode #3 also awaits.  As if that wasn't enough, prep fast approaches on that second episode which I'll be producing.  Yesterday, we got a jump on that by heading out on a preliminary location scout for "12 Hours" along with Bruce, the episode's director.

Plenty of fighting room = Check!

To be honest, it's not in the script. Still, an interesting location we can file away for future reference.

The first thing I do when I walk into a room is check out the potential fighting props: the tables, the rolling chairs, the shelves - even the exit sign. Our Frank is a resourceful combatant.

Who knows what lies beyond the yellow doors.

Okay. We do. It's a clean room. Love the lighting.

Potential way out or possible way in?

Not sure what happens when you go inside and lock the door. Unfortunately, Tim refused to be a good sport and allow us to test it on him.

Flammable or inflammable? Which is it?!!

Ah, the lurid reception area.

Yes, we're all very busy – but perhaps the busiest individual of all is series director Andy Mikita (who you may recognize from, oh, about every second or third episode of the Stargate franchise) who is overseeing style continuity for all aspects the production.  He's reading scripts, going over storyboards, reviewing second unit dailies from Europe, discussing schedules and timings, meeting with department heads, helping to prep the first two episodes, and addressing endless other issues.  And he won't be catching a breather any time soon.  In a few weeks, it'll be his turn to take the directing reins on not one but two episodes as we block shoot #4 and #5.

Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the inexhaustible Susan Murdoch who has been juggling a dizzying array of schedules, timings, budgets, and availabilities.

And then there's everyone else in the production office: Sonia, Anna, Brenda, Mega, Trevor, Tim, Tim, Tim, Craig, Sarah, Patricia, Adrian, Ryan, Jeff, Doug, Patrick, Bruce, and the countless others who you'll eventually meet on this blog as things move along.

It's going to be a long, exhausting, but no doubt immensely satisfying rest-of-the-year and I know the finished product is going to kick ass.

Finally, on the heels of yet another broadcaster summit, I leave the final word (in picture) to M6 Executive Julien DeWolf -

All Systems Go!

Tagged: The Transporter, Transporter, Transporter: The Series

July 8, 2011: Questioning my manliness! Trevor does it again! Hurray for weekends!

So I was walking into the office the other day when someone made a comment about the the bag I was carrying, intimating it was somehow effeminate to be strolling around toting this -

Essentially, questioning my masculinity.  Well, I was able to set them straight by pointing out the only reason I carry the "girly" bag is because my Happy Panda bento box won't fit in my briefcase.

That's a happy panda, folks, not a dancing rabbit or a tiara-sporting unicorn.  If YOU'VE got a more manly lunch container, I'd like to see it.

Anyway, with any doubts about my masculinity put to rest, check out the contents of my Happy Panda compliments of Akemi…

Seriously!  Have you seen a more fearsome egg?  Also -

Individually wrapped oatmeal-peanut butter portions with his and hers kuma-chan stickers.  I think Russell Crowe's Japanese girlfriend makes him something similar.

A little more serious now as I turn the subject to our Exec. Producers' Assistant, Trevor.  In short, I'm not sure he's working out.  First, he has the nerve to point out mistakes I made in a recent script.  THEN, he starts having reservations when I inform him that I'm holding a contest to decide the name of his firstborn child (vote here!: ).  And now, he's proven himself incapable of performing the easiest of tasks – deciphering the simple handwritten notes I made on the casting breakdown for episode 2.

Check it out.  He's unable to read something as simple as:

"Scandinavian".  Or -

"A little more dignified than Bernhardt".

I mean – come on!  Next thing you know, he'll need me to chew his lunch for him like a mother bird.

For some reason, readers have been emailing me their questions for Jeff Lemire, writer/artist of the July Book of the Month Club pick: Sweet Tooth.  All good, but it would also be great if some of you could post your thoughts on the book – and questions for its creator – here () as it makes gathering them up a heck of a lot easier.  Speaking of which – you have until Sunday to get your questions in for Jeff, so post 'em if you got 'em!

Thanks to everyone who weighed in on the Akemi situation.  She was actually quite touched by the number of people who took the time to post about her.  So touched, in fact, that a couple of you actually made her cry.  Nice going!

Finally Friday!  Instead of sitting at a desk all day working on script rewrites, I can take a break and sit at a kitchen table all day, working on script rewrites.

Hurray for weekends!

July 7, 2011: Sooooothing doggy pics!

Oof!

What a day.

Let's leave it at that and, instead, concentrate on soothing doggy pics.

Soooooothing…

July 6, 2011: Gusto, Gorgonzola, and Ghosts!

Having wrapped work on the Saving Hope pilot, Michael Shanks (Stargate's Daniel Jackson) is westcoast-bound were he'll begin work on The Pastor's Wife opposite Rose McGowan.  But before jetting off, I managed to corral him for  a mini Stargate reunion of sorts last night.

Fab director Andy Mikita and his even fabber wife Candace.

Executive Producer Robert Cooper waits to be impressed.

Michael Shanks considers the agnolotti. And, ultimately, decides to tell a story instead.

We gathered at La Forchetta in Little Italy where we enjoyed a nice meal highlighted some tasty gnocchi, great smoked duck, and a tale of absolute bone-chilling terror compliments of Mr. Shanks.  Oh, this one had it all – a red-eyed demon, a boy in a closet, an Indian burial ground, self-immolation, protective wards, cleansings, inter-dimensional travel – and was almost an hour in the telling.  So engrossed was Michael in the based-on-a-true-story account that he didn't get around to his agnolotti until well after the whole demonic portal revelation…

The agnolotti had to wait until after the account of the exorcism.

Candace, Andy Mikita's wife, countered with a tale of her own involving a young girl left home alone, the spirit of a hunchbacked old man, a mysterious message, and a grisly farm accident.

Rob and I sat listening, rapt, trying to figure out how we could combine both tales into one glorious low-budget feature film that would gross tens of millions of dollars.

Michael pitches the bit about the non-arcing salt and the creepy imaginary friend.

Anyway, as far as ghost stories go – pretty hair-raising stuff.  Michael's in particular was filled with enough horrific shocks and startling surprises to make that actor who played the doctor in Signs green with envy.  Next time he guests at a con in your burg (MS not the doctor guy), get him to tell it again.  With the lights off…

Spooky!

Candace partakes in spirits of another kind.

Rob isn't sold on the late second act twist.

Andy was on the edge of his seat!

It was a great night – a lot of fun, a lot of laughs.  It's always nice to get the band back together.

Looks like Michael will be heading back to T.O. (family in tow) in August for the big Fan Expo.  Hopefully he'll come armed with an equally ghoulish sequel.

A toast to the ghosts! And the panna cotta!

 

July 5, 2011: Sad Rabbit

It was the subtlest of changes, a transition so slight as to be almost imperceptible.  If not for the fact that we've been together for over a year, I might not have even noticed.  At first, I wasn't sure but, as I began to suspect, and pay closer attention, it became obvious that something was up.  Akemi seemed a little distant, a little pensive – lately, a little less quick to laugh and more inclined to take time to herself.  Of course, when I asked her about it, she was quick to deny there was a problem.  I pressed and, in typical Japanese fashion, she begged off, hesitated, claimed it wasn't important, said she didn't want to bother me and then, ultimately, admitted there WAS something bothering her.

Her visa expires in three months.

Here I've been, so focused on work and enduring Toronto, looking ahead to finishing up the year and returning to Vancouver, that I failed to consider a very big part of my life for the past fifteen months will not be going back with me.  The next three months may not be ideal for me but for Akemi, they're all she has left in Canada.  It's heartbreaking to sense the struggle beneath that gentle, optimistic facade, doubly so because I know how much she loved Vancouver and how much happier these last three months would have been back home in more familiar surroundings.  It makes me sad to know we won't get the opportunity to do so many of the things we loved while we were together on the west coast, little things like grabbing an ice cream at Bella Gelateria, watching a movie in the theater room, or even sitting in the backyard with the dogs.

The dogs.  They'll all miss her, but Bubba especially.  Whenever Akemi is on the couch, he has to be up there with her.  Whenever Akemi goes upstairs, he has to bound up after her.  Whenever Akemi puts her shoes on to head out, he has to sit at her feet, gazing imploringly up at her, seemingly trying to convince her to take him along through sheer mental will.  So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Bubba was the first one to pick up on the change in Akemi, over the past few days snuggling alongside her a little closer, staying by her side a little longer.

For now, I'm going to try to concentrate on the present and not worry about the future.  Easier for me given the many distractions I have to contend with on a daily basis but not quite so simple for Akemi who has all day to think about it her impending departure.  And despite the fact that I finally got her to open up about what was bothering her, again in typical Japanese fashion, she remains reluctant to discuss, adopting a sunny smile and waving away my efforts.  The prospect of my worrying about her is apparently more distressing to her than her own personal distress.  And yet still, there are rare instances where the brave front falters and I catch a glimpse of the true emotions.  "I'll be okay,"she assured me last night, bright-eyed and spirited.  And then, a simple request: "Please don't forget about me."

Sigh.

Speaking of forgetting – don't forget to cast your vote in the Name Trevor's Baby contest (see past entries for details).  AND don't forget to post your questions and comments on Sweet Tooth!

Today's Bento Breakfast -

July 4, 2011: Sweet Tooth by Jeff Lemire

It's been years since Earth was struck by a mysterious plague.  Called The Affliction, it killed billions and gave rise to strange genetic mutations – the birth of countless human-animal hybrids.  Innocents, they are born into a hostile world where they are targeted by suspicious and fearful survivors.  Gus is one such off-spring, a naïve boy who has spent his entire life in isolation, under the protection of his God-fearing father.  But when his father dies, Gus is forced to venture out of the wooded environs he calls home.  It's a quest for food, for survival, that is made all the more difficult by Gus's curious abnormality: the conspicuous antlers sprouting from his head.

No sooner does he leave the safe confines of the deep forest than he is set upon by a group of hunters.  Fortunately, rescue comes in the form of a grizzled mystery man named Jepperd who dispatches the hunters in violent fashion and takes the frightened Gus under his wing.  The unlikely pair then set off on a journey to a fabled sanctuary, the "preserve", where hybrid children are reputedly free to thrive in the safety of a sheltered environment.

Along the way, the two bond over perilous encounters, campfire chats, and a Gus' love of candy bars (which earns him the nickname Sweet Tooth).  While it is clear that Jepperd is a man of many secrets, it isn't until volume 1's final pages that the depth and darkness of his prior life are revealed.  And it's this shocking revelation that turns the story on its head, ending the first book on a heart-breaking note and holding the promise of greater tragedy to come.

Writer/Artist Jeff Lemire paints a bleak picture (in both words and colors) of a grim dystopian world rife with death and danger – yet manages to counter-balance the prevailing darkness with brighter elements: the comical dream sequences, the colorful almost garish visuals of the book's more violent sequences and the touching friendship that develops between Gus and Jepperd.

I picked up this first volume of Sweet Tooth several months ago in a bid to expand my comicly horizons, figuring I would try something new.  Well, the fact that I ended up making it the July Book of the Month Club pick should give you some indication of how much I enjoyed it.  I was looking for something unique and that's exactly what I got in terms of narrative, visual style, and, most importantly, the characters of Gus and Jepperd who, though very different, prove equally likable.  Yes, I've read reviews that compare Sweet Tooth to McCormack's The Road and, while I agree there are similarities in their basic premise, I found Lemire's vision unique and arresting.  For the record, I didn't enjoy The Road because – ironically enough – I found it compared unfavorably to Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower.

A terrific opening chapter to what (three volumes in) is shaping up to be an engaging and poignant series.

So, those are my initial thoughts on Sweet Tooth.  What did you all think?  Start posting your comments and questions for writer/artist Jeff Lemire!

A reminder to cast your vote in the Name Trevor's Baby Contest.  Click this link () then scroll down to choose from among the fabulous five finalists: Trouble, Orpah, Spearmint, Eufemia, and Muff.

Come on, Oprah!

Tagged: Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth