Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 551

January 26, 2011: Another Opportunity Beckons! March's Book of the Month Club Pick! Doc gives me the all clear!

"I'm enjoying the time off,"said Carl, sitting on my left, behind his desk, which used to be Robert Cooper's desk, and Jonathan Glassner's desk before his.  "But I'm starting to feel like I want to get back to work."

"Me too,"said Paul, sitting on my right on what may or may not have been the couch where John Lenic's dog once peed on Ron Wilkerson's outline for Between Two Fires.  'I'm tired of being at home."

I said nothing, conspicuous in my silence, and wondered whether they were crazy.  Or, maybe, if I was the one who was crazy because, two months into my extended hiatus, I wasn't missing work in the least.  Sure, I missed the people, but I didn't miss waking up early, having to be somewhere, or sitting in a room all day breaking stories.  And I certainly didn't miss being parked in front of a laptop, agonizing over dialogue.  After 11-some years of writing and producing Stargate, I think I'd be perfectly happy NOT writing anything for a long, LOOONG time.  Of course Brad points out that I write every day here on this blog (although Ashleigh and Ivon are of a different opinion given that they view my mailbag-dedicated entries as cheating.  Come on.  Those clever and insightful answers don't write themselves!).  Still, there's a big difference between writing whatever the hell I want whenever the hell I want, and scripting a produceable Tease and Five Acts.

I'd love to see how long I COULD go just staying at home, doing my two-a-day work-outs, reading, cooking, and spending quality time with the dogs – but, alas, it doesn't look like I'll get to find out as another opportunity beckons.  I'm not enamored of the idea of uprooting myself, saying goodbye to everyone I know on this coast, and moving to the other side of the country but, in all fairness, this is exactly how I felt eleven years ago when we were offered a staff position on Stargate.  Back then, I was making a comfortable living freelancing from home and leaving Montreal was at the bottom of the list of Things I Wanted To Do, right between "learn to play the accordion" and "move to Toronto", but the opportunity that presented itself was simply too good to pass up.  And, in retrospect, I've gotta say it turned out okay.

This opportunity is equally interesting.  It's a great project, based on an established franchise, and, if all goes well, Paul and I will be on board for its first season.  But first, there's that second conference call, scheduled for tomorrow morning, followed by a week in Toronto getting to know everyone and their take on the series, then making sure we're all on the same page, creatively and professionally compatible.  It's not unlike a blind date, I suppose, with our agent as matchmaker.  I'll make sure to dress nicely and hold the door open for everyone.

So, what about you guys?  How long do you think you could go living a life of leisure?

While Marjorie M. Liu, the author of January's Book of the Month Club pick, The Iron Hunt, considers your questions, I'd just like to remind everyone that February's Book of the Month Club discussion fast approaches.  The week of February 14th, we'll be discussing Lady of Mazes and author Karl Schroeder will be dropping by to field your queries and check out pictures of my dogs.

And, while we're talking Book of the Month Club, allow me to give you the heads up on March's selection:

Ghosts of Manhattan, by George Mann

"INTRODUCING THE WORLD'S FIRST STEAMPUNK SUPERHERO

1926. New York. The Roaring Twenties. Jazz. Flappers. Prohibition. Coal-powered cars. A cold war with a British Empire that still covers half of the globe. Yet things have developed differently to established history. America is in the midst of a cold war with a British Empire that has only just buried Queen Victoria, her life artificially preserved to the age of 107. Coal-powered cars roar along roads thick with pedestrians, biplanes take off from standing with primitive rocket boosters and monsters lurk behind closed doors and around every corner. This is a time in need of heroes. It is a time for The Ghost. A series of targeted murders are occurring all over the city, the victims found with ancient Roman coins placed on their eyelids after death. The trail appears to lead to a group of Italian-American gangsters and their boss, who the mobsters have dubbed 'The Roman'. However, as The Ghost soon discovers, there is more to The Roman than at first appears, and more bizarre happenings that he soon links to the man, including moss-golems posing as mobsters and a plot to bring an ancient pagan god into the physical world in a cavern beneath the city. As The Ghost draws nearer to The Roman and the center of his dangerous web, he must battle with foes both physical and supernatural and call on help from the most unexpected of quarters if he is to stop The Roman and halt the imminent destruction of the city."

"Atmospheric and pleasingly enigmatic, the novel pulls us into world of pure pulp."

—io9.com

"I lost sleep wanting to read this book… it was just huge amounts of fun." —SF Signal

Sounds intriguing and I love the cover!

Discussion the week of March 14th with author George Mann.

Went in for my full physical today.  I'm relieved to report that I've been cleared to resume my wanton ways.  All normal.  Blood sugar levels fantastic.  I celebrated with double desserts tonight!

Tagged: George Mann, Ghosts of Manhattan, Karl Schroeder, Lady of Mazes

January 25, 2011: What was your favorite Stargate VFX shot/sequence? Dinner with the gang!

Looking back over your Stargate viewing experience, what would you consider your favorite VFX shot/sequence?

Hmmmm. This requires some thought.

It's tough.  So many to choose from.  I'd love to hear what the fans have to say.  But I'd also love to hear what an expert has to say on the subject.  An expert like, say, this guy -

Stargate Visual Effects Supervisor Extraordinaire Mark Savela.  Over the years, he and his gang have produced some of the most unbelievably awesome VFX shots and sequences on television.  So I decided to corner him and ask him the same question. He kindly agreed to swing by this blog and count down his favorite Stargate Visual Effects shots/sequences.  Each entry will include Mark's insight into how the shot/sequence came together complete with supporting visuals (photos and/or vids).

Impatiently awaiting his first installment.  What do you figure will kick off the list in the #10 spot?  The super gate in SG-1′s Beachhead?  The big bomb drop in SGA's First Strike?  The body-burrowing sequence in SGU's Time?

Last night, the gang got together for dinner at Romer's Burger Bar.  The highpoint of the night?  Ashleigh doing a shot.  And not just any shot.  I'm talking about the lemon-cream dipping sauce that accompanied our mini-doughnuts.

That girl will drink anything!

Tomorrow, I'm scheduled to go in for my annual check-up.  Well, they call it an "annual check-up" but, in my case, it's more of a every half decade type of thing.  I went in for a general blood test a couple of weeks ago, so my doctor has been sitting on the results for a while.  I figure that if it was bad news, he wold have already called me up in a panic by now. Unless, of course, he tried my home line which I never answer.  Or tried the production office which has been somewhat deserted of late.

So, dentist today, doctor tomorrow and, next week, it looks like I may be in Toronto for business.  It doesn't get much better than that!

Nope, still no news on the Stargate front.  Tick tick tick…

January 24, 2011: Hey, look who's in town!

Hey!  Look who's back in town!

Yep.  Executive Producer Carl Binder is in Vancouver for Two Days Only in order to organize and pack up a few things.  Correction.  In order for his wife, Karen, to organize and pack up a few things while he sits in his office trawling the internet for hairless monkey porn and whatnot.  Far be it for me to criticize, however, seeing as how he has gifted me with two lovely (half-empty) bottles of Kahlua and Frangelico.  In return, I gifted him an adorable kitten picture frame that I slipped into his suitcase while his back was turned.

Anyway, given that his time in Vancouver is limited, I made sure to book early to avoid disappointment and he was kind enough to pencil me in for a 6:30 dinner tonight.

Also dropping by the production offices for a surprise visit this morning was -

Special Effects Maestro Wray Douglas who was in the area helping a friend.  Now when anyone else says they're "helping a friend", I assume "move".  In Wray's case though, my mind automatically goes to "blow something up".  And, as it turns out, I'm right.  No details on what exactly he'll be blowing up and where, but I'm sure it'll be splendiforous.

Talked to Stargate Creator/Exec. Producer/Director/Writer/Duck Smoker Robert Cooper this morning who is presently fielding PLENTY of interesting professional possibilities. Also, as a result of our conversation, a fast-track opportunity that had presented itself several weeks ago is looming large once again.  It's a terrific, high-profile gig and I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun – but it WILL mean relocating to the other side of the country.  And that brings up two big issues.  One involves the people I'll leave behind.  The second: How the hell am I going to get my dogs there?  Given their breed-specific respiratory issues (and the fact that I've heard one too many pet travel horror stories) flying them cargo is not an option. They could fly in-cabin as carry-on, but the airline limit is one pet per traveler with a limited number of pets per flight meaning that, even if I fly with a friend(s), it will still amount to multiple trips.  Also, porky Maximus is pushing the 25 pound weight limit.  Another option is driving cross-country, but the thought of spending a week's worth of eight hour days in my car does not appeal.  Still another option is chartering a plane and, believe it or not, it's something I have looked into.  Certainly faster than driving cross-country but a tad more expensive.

There's also the fact that if things move as quickly as I think they will, it will make both Paul and I unavailable for any other projects-poised-for-production.  Was hoping to hear something definite on the Stargate front before week's end (or certainly before January 31st).

On the bright side, I suppose that no matter where I go, I'll be able to bring you all along as well – which means a lot to me, especially after receiving comments like the following that, for some reason, found its way into my spam folder:

"I'm impressed, I need to say. Really not often do I encounter a weblog that's both educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you might have hit the nail on the head. Your thought is outstanding; the issue is something that not enough individuals are speaking intelligently about. I'm very pleased that I stumbled throughout this in my search for something referring to this."

Thank you, ForeclosurePropertiesForCheap.  Your sincere and heartfelt words are much appreciated.  They're gratifying, touching and make me want to invest in undervalued real estate.

January 23, 2011: Meals and mailbag!

I'm watching way too much Top Chef…

Cream of shitake mushroom soup topped with homemade pesto and white truffle oil

Lager steamers with parsley and garlic butter.

Monkfish with a shallot-fennel-Pinot Grigio reduction, cinnamon and nutmeg-dusted squash, salt and pepper potatoes, butter-dill carrots, and potato croquettes (the latter compliments of Akemi).

White chocolate kasu truffle (foreground) and kasu-sake ice cream (background).

Mailbag:

max writes: "Do you need an agent to get invited to pitch an idea?"

Answer: In almost all cases, yes.

max also writes: "Did the staff or actors of SG series ever get together with the competition (BG for example) for a BBQ or drinks?"

Answer: BSG was never the competition.  Quite the opposite in fact, especially during the SciFi Friday era.  The better genre shows perform in general, the more receptive networks will be to taking a chance on new SF, fantasy, and horror-themed productions.  That being said, I know that the various productions around town have taken part in friendly hockey games.  Off the top of my head, I remember Stargate playing a very tough and talented Smallville team.

PoorOldEdgarDerby writes: "Obviously if they pitch something that's similar to something that's already aired you can't tell much about them. But if they pitch something that's only still in development are you likely to give them another chance since they've demonstrated an ability to independently create something you're already set on producing?"

Answer: Yes (and I believe that was the point of my final statement – #10).  Those freelancers were always invited back.

PoorOldEdgarDerby also writes: "If I'm pitching an idea, should I avoid resorting to the stereotypical scifi episodes, leaving it to the staff writers to do the "fighting to the death while out of phase in bizarro world" stories?"

Answer: If you're asking me if you should avoid cliches, I would answer yes.  If, on the other hand, you're asking if you should avoid common SF themes like time travel, cloning, etc., I would say no.  The challenge would be to give those ideas a new spin and make them unique to your show, your characters.  Take Window of Opportunity for instance.  When we first pitched the time loop episode, it was much darker.  After talking to Robert Cooper, he steered us in a more comedic direction.  It came to be known as our Groundhog Day episode because it was, structurally and tonally, very similar to the movie of the same name – and yet, it remains a fan favorite because it was so enjoyable to watch our characters react to the bizarre scenario.

PoorOldEdgarDerby also writes: "It sounds like freelancers should try for one-off episodes and not insert themselves into a main story arc. Thoughts?"

Answer: Absolutely, and this should be rule #11: Pitch a one-off.  Since you're not privy to the ongoing writers' room discussions, you'll always be several steps bheind if you're trying to come up with a more serialized story.  The pitch that landed us a staff position on Stargate was a stand-alone episode, Scorched Earth.  Marty G.'s golden ticket was a one-off as well, Childhood's End.  The same goes for Damian Kindler, The Other Guys, and Ken Cuperus, Common Ground.

Jack B. writes: "You can never get a production company to even look at the idea. They almost always ignore these emails."

Answer: That's because accepting unsolicited submissions opens them up to all sorts of legal hassles.  A great idea will help you get a foot in the door, but you'll need an agent to knock first.

scott_land writes: "In your opinion what season do you think was THE golden season for SG1 and Atlantis?"

Answer: Depends what you mean by golden.  My personal faves were seasons 10 of SG-1 and season 4 of Atlantis.

Thornyrose writes: "Isn't it defeating the purpose if you're modifying the reader recipes right from the start?"

Answer: Only if I'm modifying the recipes entered in the competition.

Michael Simpson writes: "What are your favourite classic stories, Joe?"

Answer: My favorite classic stories?  Probably the ones that left such an enormous impression on me the first time I read them when I was very young.  The stories of Bradbury's The Illustrated Man.  Shirley Jackson's The Lottery left a huge impression.

antonio chavez writes: "hey Joe,I was just wondering where can we the fans get all that exclusive information (which I desire to posses) such as artworks,planets information,creatures pre and post artworks and all of that stuff that you sometimes post on the blog????"

Answer: Sorry.  As far as I know, they're otherwise unavailable for public consumption.

Ulrike Tannenberg writes: "Some of the songs in SGU I really love and in most cases I could find the singer and songtitle mentioned somewhere in the internet. But I could not find it for the 1.season episode "Divided" and would very much appreciate it, if you could let me know."

Answer: Hmmm.  Not sure off the top of my head.  When, during the episode, does the song play?

Bloomgate writes: "Anyway, it appears that the brightness has been cranked up for syndication. Do you know if that was an intentional decision by someone or if, perhaps, it's just part of the process of what happens when an HD show is converted for a low def channel?"

Answer: No idea.  I've never noticed before.

PJR writes: "Favourite 'Spooks' episodes? And why?"

Answer: Season one, the "deep-fryer" episode, because it was so unexpected and shocking.

PJR also writes: "Would you pitch to UK, or is US/Canada the only places to play because of market size, or other factors that appeal?"

Answer: Of course I'd pitch to the UK.  In fact, one of the projects presently on the stack is a potential Canadian-UK co-production.

Sean D. writes: "Regarding "Window of Opportunity" and Dr. Jackson's loop-back phrase, "Anyway, I'm sorry but that just happens to be how I feel about it. What do you think?" What was Daniel talking about?"

Answer: Believe it or not, I have no idea.

Chief6309 writes: "At the risk of being totally off topic for today's blog, has anyone, thought to pitch SGU to Directv channel 101?"

Answer: All avenues have and are being considered.

Luis writes: "Ever thought of getting a Nook from Barnes and Nobles and reading books that way?..saves alot of bookself space."

Answer: I own a kindle which is great for travel, but nothing beats the feel of a real book or the look a well-stocked bookshelf.

Lyle writes: "What are you top 5 or 10 favorite TV series of all time?"

Answer: The Sopranos, Rome, The Shield, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Simpsons, South Park, Seinfeld, Top Chef, and Monday Night Football.

JYS writes: ""maria writes: "If you could have one thing to eat before you die, what would it be?" Answer: The heart of my greatest enemy."

how would you like that heart prepared? Raw? Braised? Roasted?"

Answer: Raw of course, and preferably still beating.

Deni writes: "Hey Joe? Remember you were going to have Joel Goldsmith do a Q & A ages ago? Whatever happened?"

Answer: That's a question for the very-busy Mr. Goldsmith.

Escyos writes: "How important is Destiny to the Lucian Alliance. Did they supply all resources and personnel to this, or was it a side project that Kiva managed to convince them to do?"

Answer: It was very important to the Lucian Alliance (Ginn says as much in conversation with Camille early in season 2).

Cody writes: "Hey Joe I have a question for you… At what point in the process is a title assigned to a given script? Does it vary by the habits of the author?"

Answer: It varies from script to script, writer to writer.

DeanGrr writes: "How do you balance the intimacy of writing (to me it would seem like sharing a deep part of yourself with the audience), and dealing with criticism from others and realities of show biz?"

Answer: Criticism is a part of the job and, in many cases, so is maintaing and online presence.  My blog is admittedly a grey area between work and play.

DeanGrr also writes: "Is there merit to the idea that scifi fans need to get a life, and that making a work of fiction part of who you are, or how you think, wrong/harmful on some level?"

Answer: Depends.  Enjoying a television show is no different than enjoying a book, a hobby, or vacationing in a particular city.  If it makes you happy, why the heck not pursue related side interests be they writing fan fiction, attending cons, picking up the next book in a series, or making a morning swim part of your daily routine?  On the other hand, putting time and effort into actively hating something, be it a t.v. show, a group, or is borderline psychotic in my books.

Sean writes: " Hey Joe – hope you make this mandatory reading for your fans and critics alike! http://blastr.com/2011/01/the-truth-about-tv-ratings-online-viewing-and-sci-fi-shows.php Fascinating read – if you have any differences of opinion I'd be curious to hear them.

Answer: An excellent article.  Nothing there we didn't already know but it offers a terrific overview for those unfamiliar with how ratings works.  That being said, the article introduces the notion that SF shows are at a disadvantage (because their audiences tend to be more tech-savvy) and seems to set out to dispel this idea, but ultimately doesn't offer evidence to the contrary.  It clearly delineates why television ratings matter to the networks (because they make their money off advertisers who want viewers to watch ads for their products) and why less emphasis is placed on DVD and online sales (although I feel the need to point out that they only count insofar as the network benefits from these sales through ownership of the show which isn't always the case), but the criticism that kicks off the article remains.  Craig is right though.  It's not a matter of making sure all viewers are counted because, at the end of the day, not all viewers are created equal.  It's the viewers who watch the commercials that the networks are interested in because they pay the bills.  Ultimately, it's a matter of finding a way to make these alternate viewing methods equally meaningful in the decisionmaking process when it comes time for a show's renewal.

Tenacious D. writes: "My question after reading the comment from hal ehrlich, is that if you suspected that SyFy was gonna screw you guys over anyway, why not give Atlantis the ending it deserved, i.e. one more season, put the Stargate cap to rest, let the money start pouring in from sci-fi fans that will only purchase a complete franchise, and move on with your lives?"

Bailey writes: "What possible reason would Syfy have for wanting to screw over Joe M and Co? So they could have a series they paid tons of money for fail to make a profit? And then write it off as a tax deduction in a truly brilliant accounting move? What?"

Answer: Thank you.

enectrixx writes: "Have you or anyone in the Stargate staff ever considered doing a Stargate SG-2/SG-3/SG-anything series?"

Answer: Nope.

Montrealer writes: "Folks don't expect SGU be back anytime soon in the current incarnation. Since Skiffy (AKA SyFy) held the first broadcast rights to any new SGU episodes."

Answer: You are incorrect, sir.  That certainly was the case with SG-1 (which is why we were stymied when given the opportunity to move forward on an eleventh season of the show) but it's not the case with SGU.

January 22, 2011: Today's book haul! More food t.v. personalities to add to my growing lists! Testing a reader recipe!

To all those wondering – yes, I fully intend to follow up yesterday's Pitching for Television post with a Submitting the Perfect Outline entry (eventually) and no, yesterday's post does not mean we're actively looking for pitches.  Sorry.

Swung by the bookstore today.  Check out my haul -

Lisa the vegetarian (That's the name she goes by.  Honest.  It's sort of like Conan the Barbarian.) told me a little about Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (the story is told from the point of view of an autistic boy who takes it upon himself to investigate the death of a neighbor's dog) and her description of the novel intrigued me enough to pick it up and set it at the top of my to-read pile.  At present, I'm reading Alastair Reynold's The Prefect, a dense but thoroughly engaging book rich in wondrous hard SF trappings.  In addition, I'm working my way through a couple of Batman trade paperbacks.

I picked up a couple of books that made several Best of 2010 lists: Harmony by Project Itoh, and Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi.  The former is set in a future dystopian world where society is closely monitored and tended to by a benevolent dictatorship.  A woman by the name of Tuan Kirie resists this totalitarian authority, first as a young girl, and later as an adult working to save the planet.  The book's author, Keikaku (Project) Itoh, revised and completed Harmony while received treatment for cancer. He passed away in 2009 at the age of 34.  Quantum Thief, the first book in a planned trilogy, is described as a futuristic heist caper.  Sold!

I was introduced to the work of Carlos J. Cortes through his novel The Prisoner, a smart near-future tech-triller that happened to be a Book of the Month Club pick in May of last year.  I enjoyed the book so much that when I spotted his first novel, Perfect Circle, sitting on the bookshelf, I didn't hesitate to snap it up.  Also making today's haul, two classics: Christopher Priest's The Inverted World and Fred Hoyle's The Black Cloud.

Finally, two cookbooks made the trip to register as well: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip…with Recipes! (Cap'n Crunch French Toast!) and How to Cook Like a Top Chef.

Speaking of Top Chef, I've been watching the latest season, All-Stars, and re-watching season five, and would like to make a couple of additions to my Food T.V. Personalities I Enjoy Watching and Food T.V. Personalities That Kind of Get on My Nerves!

Eric Ripert (award-winning chef and owner of Le Bernardin, occasional guest judge on Top Chef).

He's incredibly charming, talented, and seems genuinely good-natured.  This guy needs his own show.

Toby Young (British journalist, author and judge on Top Chef).

The guy certainly knows his food but I could do without his manufactured witticisms.  The occasional bon mot is amusing but consistent quippiness gets old very fast.

Playoff football tomorrow!  In the NFC, I'm rooting for the Packers although I would be happy to see the Bears return to the Superbowl.  In the AFC, I'm backing the Jets.  And, no, I would not be happy to see the Steelers representing in Texas.

Finally, last night, in a preview of the I Make the Best Whatever… showdown, I made a variation of Greg's Nutty Broken Pasta dish (see January 19th mailbag), replacing the spaghetti with penne rigate and pinwheel pasta, the gorgonzola/feta with St. Andre cheese, crisping the sage, and adding a little cream and butter to the mix.

It was very good although, in the future, I think I'd add the pinwheels later as the pastas cooked unevenly.

Next week, I start on those other reader recipes!

 

January 21, 2011: Pitching for Television!

You've been invited to pitch story ideas for a television series that has just opened the door to freelance scripts.  Congratulations.  This is a huge opportunity.  Don't screw it up!

To ensure you don't, here's some advice that will hopefully land you the gig or, at the very least, impress the producers enough that they'll be inclined to invite you back next time:

1. Come up with a with some terrific story ideas – no less than three, no more than five.  Less than three suggests you haven't really invested the time and aren't all that interested in pitching the show. More than five and you start spreading yourself thin.  More is definitely not merrier in this case.  Focus on making those 3-5 pitches kick-ass rather than presenting a dozen ideas of various half-ass degree.

2. While the producers are no doubt receptive to hearing your ideas – you HAVE been invited to pitch after all – you don't want to overstay your welcome.  Keep it short and sweet. Remember, they're producers. They have other matters to attend to like auditions, editing, and personal massages.

3. Pitch a story idea with a beginning, middle, and end.  Hook your audience, engage them, then let 'em go and leave 'em happy.  What is the unique situation that brings them onboard?  What are the developments that will keep them glued to their sets?  And, most importantly, what is the solution to the problem you've created that will leave them amazed and satisfied?  We once had a freelance writer come in and pitch a scenario in which characters begin to vanish from Atlantis.  As our heroes struggle to explain these mysterious disappearances, all around them Atlantis personnel continue to pop out of existence.  We were intrigued.  What happens?  What IS the cause of these mysterious disappearances?  "I don't know,"replied the freelancer with an embarrassed shrug.  "I figured that's something you guys would come up with."  Yeah.  No.  As Marty G. pointed out in the room: "That's what we pay you for.".

4. Pitch a beginning, middle, and end covering the major story points BUT resist the urge to overcomplicate.  The truth is, the more details you provide, the more excuses you give someone to say no.  I've sat in on pitches that started promisingly enough only to get bogged down in a quagmire of extraneous minutiae.  Other times, a seemingly insignificant, totally unnecessary addition to a pitch served to totally derail it.  I remember once being regaled with a way-too-long story idea and, about a third of the way through the laborious process, having the freelancer say: "The team reports their findings back to the General in charge.  I call him Tiggle.  When they go back to the planet…" But the rest of the pitch was lost on me because I was fixated on that damn Tiggle.  All I could think was "Tiggle?  General Tiggle? Why include that in the pitch?  And why the hell would you name a character Tiggle?".

5. I don't care if you're pitching because your agent is forcing you to, you lost a bet, or you're killing time before your big lottery win – make sure you KNOW THE SHOW!  You don't have to have watched every episode that ever aired but, at the very least, know enough to get the character names right and be cognizant of "how things work".  We once had a freelancer come in and deliver a pitch that went something like: "SG-i are exploring a planet when they get separated from Tee-alk. When they try to gate back to Earth, they end up stranded in a dimension between Pakistan and India and have to avert a nuclear war."  It was pretty clear from the pitch that the freelancer had never watched an episode of the series.  How did we know? Well, for starters, it's SG-1 as in the number one, not SG-i as in the letter I.  I mean, it IS the title of our damn series – Stargate: SG-1.  Also, the name of the character who, at that time, had appeared in some 100+ episodes of the show was Teal'c (pronounced like the color teal with an addition of a hard k), not Tee-alk (pronounced like the crumpet accompaniment with the addition of an -alk).  Finally, the gate doesn't send you to alternate dimensions.  It just doesn't work that way. When informed of this, the freelancer's response was: "Why not?".  Which brings us to my next rule -

6. Don't cling to your idea like a poisoned mother, cast adrift before the end of Mulholland Drive, clutches her antidote-antibodied child with a clear understand of the movie's ending.  From my experience, it's rare for a freelancer to hit it out of the park.  Most of the freelance pitches we bought were not ideas freelancers came up with but modified versions of their original pitch or a story element it contained. Occasionally, that original idea won't work for whatever reason, but it may give the producers an idea for another possible story. Go with the flow.  They have a better idea of what they're looking for.  If they take your story in a different direction than the one you envisioned, help out in the rebuilding process.  Throw out a couple of ideas.  Be receptive to change.  At the end of the day, they won't be buying that original pitch but they WILL be buying the idea that came out of said pitch.  Or story element.  Or, in one case several years ago, a misinterpretation of the word "tracker".

7. Don't be f&%king weird!  Granted, writers are, by their very nature weird, which is why they've chosen a career that demands very little social interaction – but I'm not talking about personal weirdness (although avoid conveying that if at all possible as well).  I'm talking about creative weirdness, coming up with laughable-if-they-weren't-somewhat-creepy notions – ie. pitches involving cross-dressing skeletons or Beatle-wig sporting Fab Five-inspired civilizations.  Yes, both true, and no, they we didn't buy either pitch.

8. Timing!  Of course the production will be setting the schedule for the pitch session, but it's not like you won't have any say in the matter.  Both mornings and afternoons are great, but avoid the 11:30 to 12:00 pre-lunch "I can't concentrate.  I want my butter chicken!" zone.  In similar fashion, avoid the 12:30 to 1:00 "Damn that butter chicken was good. Soooo tiiiiired!" zone as well.  Also, if you have access to a time machine, try to avoid scheduling pitch sessions that may overlap with sudden and significant global developments or shocking celebrity deaths.

9. If the production has requested written pitches then awesome! You're a writer and, like most writers I know, are probably better on paper than over speakerphone. Apply all of the aforementioned advice to your document.  Again, keep it short and sweet.  That means no more than a page a pitch.  One thing I always appreciated as a producer was a log-line/hook/one-liner at the top of the page that summed up the story (ie. When members of the Alantis expedition begin to vanish, McKay scrambles to learn the cause of the mysterious disappearances before it's too late). Suffice it to say, these doesn't require an ending.

10. Suck it up!  It's not the end of the world!  More often than not, pitch sessions don't result in a sale – and this has less to do with the merits of the ideas pitched than it does the needs of a particular production.  In my case, a lot of the time, the ideas pitched were either too similar to stories we had already done or too close to stories that were already in development. Short of an actual sale, the latter was always the best possible outcome for a freelancer because it demonstrated a solid understanding of the series and what we were looking for, AND always concluded with an invitation to come back and pitch us again.

Okay, that's all you need to know.  Or, all I can think of at the moment.

Now, get out there and sell that pitch!

You have two more days to get your questions in for Marjorie M. Liu, author of January's book of the month club pick: The Iron Hunt!

January 20, 2011: Mr. Fixit! Season 2 sneak peeks from the Art Department! Mailbag!

First, thanks to everyone who provided detailed instructions, talking me through the complicated process of resetting my garage door opener.  I, uh, pulled on the little red handle and it works now.

Second, here's some production art from the back half of Stargate: Universe's second season:

Third, let's do some mailbag -

maria writes: "If you could have one thing to eat before you die, what would it be?"

Answer: The heart of my greatest enemy.

me writes: "Just out of curiousity how much time do you spend on your posts on average?"

Answer: About an hour.  Longer for those ultra-rare well thought-out entries.

tidusspear08 writes: "1. How many pages does the average script have?"

Answer: Depends on the show.  When we first started working on SG-1 back in the show's fourth season, the average script clocked in at about 48 pages.  By the time we were writing scripts for season ten, the average was more like 51.  SGU was around the 51 page mark as well whereas Atlantis scripts tended to come in at a more robust 54-55 pages. Of course, it also depended on the type of script.  Dialogue-driven episodes tended to have longer page counts (especially if the characters of Daniel Jackson or Rodney McKay had the lion's share of the dialogue) whereas action-driven scripts tended to have a lower page count.

"2. Why are you so damn good?"

Answer: Good is subjective.  Having said that, I owe my success to the people who make me look good: my fellow writer-producers, the directors, the various post and production departments, the cast, the crew, and Consuela, the woman who does my hair and make-up.

"3. How did you get into the writing business? Any tip?"

Answer: I started in animation and worked my way up from there.  Animation is more open to new writers and is a great place to hone your craft AND make money.

As for a tip: Well, someone once said "Write about what you know" – like, in my case, trekking across the universe exploring strange alien worlds battling evil.

max writes: "Could you please one day tell us about the writing process that writers go through if working on a series like SGU?"

Answer: I've done so on several occasions but don't mind repeating myself.  But only because it's you, Max.

At the beginning of the year, we'd get together and throw out ideas: Where did we leave off?  How are we going to wrap up this storyline?  How about an episode where Brody thinks he's a pumpkin?  We choose the best ideas (ie. the Brody pumpkin notion) and assign scripts based on: a) who came up with the idea, b) who wants to go to script on a particular idea, c) who doesn't look away quick enough and thus gets handed the Ancient storyline, and d) none of the above.  Often, it's simply a matter of who happens to be free.  Then, the writers get together and spin, throwing out ideas and building the story.  Armed with these fantastic ideas, the writer heads off to translate them to outline form – basically a blueprint that breaks down the story into a Tease, five acts, and their various scenes.  The outline is critiqued and, following a second draft, approved.  At which point the writer goes to script.  The writer completes a first draft that is put out to the writing department. Notes are given (ie. "Instead of a pumpkin, why don't we make it a zucchini instead?") and said notes are incorporated into another draft – the Writer's Draft.  This will go out wide, to the art department, visual effects department, studio and network.  More notes are received and are, in turn, incorporated into yet another draft.  Eventually, the script goes wide – to all the major departments – in time for the concept meeting that kicks off prep week.  As prep week continues, more notes are addressed in subsequent drafts or pages (ie. "The prop department can't find zucchinis.  Can we go back to pumpkin?").  Occasionally, director or actor input will also necessitate changes be made.  Eventually, the final change to the script is made – usually a day or two after the episode has been shot – and you move on to the next script.  For further insight into the draft-naming process (and pics from Atlantis's fifth season), go here: http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/march-10-2008/

max also writes: "Did most of the writers or producers gradate with a Fine Art degree or writing-related degrees,?"

Answer: No, although my writing partner Paul and I did meet in a college creative writing workshop.

paloosa writes: "I've been wondering how you've both been coping emotionally with not getting back into the groove for an upcoming season. I know you're busy with your own projects, and some post production on SGU, but after so many great years of Stargate and with it's fate still undetermined, has it affected you?"

Answer: I don't think so.  Usually, around this time, we're back in the office breaking stories for the new season.  I've been using the free time to get some stuff done.  In a couple of weeks, maybe I'll start feeling a little stir crazy and want to get out there writing again.  But probably not.

Adam writes: "Anyway, i just wanted to know, although you've stated that you joined the Stargate writing team during SG-1′s fourth season, did you watch or know of the show before that time? Did you have any input into the first three seasons?"

Answer: No input into the first three seasons of SG-1.  In fact, prior to receiving the opportunity to pitch, SG-1 was a show I actively avoided watching on the basis of the sole episode I'd seen, a horrendous little first season entry called Emancipation.

Adam writes: "Oh and, I read about your recent trip to Tokyo. sounds like it was fun! my suggestion? come down here to Australia next! there's lots to see and do!"

Answer: Thanks for the invite!  The cancellation has given me tons of free time so I'll take you up on your kind offer and spend March through June at your place.  I'll need a car, a king-size bed with a mattress that's not too hard but not too soft either, some great restaurant recommendations, and a per diem.  Looking forward to seeing you!

Josh writes: "Also, I do have one quick question, has it ever been planned to show the Furlings, either in SGU or in a SG-1 or SGA movie?"

Answer: Outside of SG-1′s 200th episode (titled, appropriately enough, 200), no.

kirk eastment writes: "If one were to use the ancient device at Dakara, which dials all gates simultaneously(ala Season Eight Episode "Threads"), and then decided to step through the gate, on which Planet would they arrive."

Answer: They'd probably be atomized and dispersed throughout the galaxy.

Joel writes: "Anyway, I may go to Vancouver next summer and I was wondering if you could recommend some sites to visit?"

Answer: Hmmm.  I'm not really a guy who checks out the local sights.  I've been here some twelve years and have yet to check out picturesque Victoria (aka God's waiting room). I hear Stanley Park is nice.  Stevenson, a quaint little fishing community where we shot Nightwalkers (SG-1) is also nice.  Also, Bella Gelateria on Cordova Street if you like that sort of delicious thing.

Ava writes: "But, Joe, are you ever going to actually tweet anything?"

Answer: Maybe when I have something interesting to say.  For now, I'll limit my uninteresting thoughts to this blog.

kevin writes: "I wonder what they'll call us: Gaters, Gaties? What are your thoughts on names, Joe?"

Answer: I like Gate-o-Raiders.

Kenn of WHR writes: "I wish I had more time to read these days. How do you find time?"

Answer: I set aside an hour and a half every night, something I've been able to do since giving up training and my dream of attaining a UFC championship belt.

Ken of WHR also writes: "Do you read Gregg Hurwitz suspense novels?"

Answer: Nope.  To be honest, I don't do much suspense.

Merced writes: "I was wondering about when watching a SGU S1 episode on DVD: Why is there no real main theme music?"

Answer: Because the network didn't want one.

Brandon T. writes: "In SGU, when the Destiny crew connect to the stones in the Pentagon (also, where General O'neill's office is), is this the Office of Homeworld Command?"

Answer: It is.

Brandon T also writes: "If it is Homeworld Command, why was this chosen to be the Earth location that was used instead of SG Command?"

Answer: I believe the Cheyenne Mountain complex was mothballed.  It's now the world's biggest JC Penny outlet.

Casey Clubb writes: "Also loved seeing John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" being held by Rush's driver in Subversion, whose idea was that?"

Answer: I believe that was Brad's idea, a salute to our lovable Creative Consultant John Scalzi.

StellaByStargate writes: "Before my imagination rockets off into the stratosphere…if–hypothetically, of course–there did turn out to be a SG mini-series, would it be exclusively SGU or might it involve several concurrent story-lines that would integrate characters and elements from SGU, SG-1 and SGA into one, epic grand-finale to the franchise…?"

Answer: IF it did turn out to be a mini-series or series of movies then, hypothetically, yes, we could integrate elements from various Stargate shows.

Maria writes: "Dear Mr. Mallozi – did you go to a cooking school? I mean, where did you learn to make all of that?"

Answer: Cook books, Food Network, and sheer inventiveness.

Chem_Is_Try writes: "How is Jelly?"

Answer: Not too heavy.  Asleep on my lap.

Zenophite writes: "Did you try releasing the lock (to the main leadscrew) and then locking it back in once the door is seated all the way to the ground?"

Answer: Yes and – oh.  It works!  How much do I owe ya?

BillieO writes: "By the way, have you seen this? It's kinda crazy… A BRAND NEW TREND IN FOOD! http://nydn.us/hdQO1v"

Answer: Interesting.  Provided you're not in a hurry.

for the love of Beckett writes: "Please, please, can we have the recipe for the chipotle sweet potato?"

Answer: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/CHIPOTLE-SCALLOPED-SWEET-POTATOES-50007743

Greg writes: "Nutty Broken Pasta (Vegetarian Dish) Wifes a vegetarian and she bugs me to make this one all the time."

Answer: Will be trying a variation of this one tomorrow night.  Thanks.

January 19, 2011: What a deal! Foodly updates!

My garage door has stopped working.  Whenever I hit my remote, it makes an ineffective clicking sound and refuses to engage.  So, today, finally, I got around to calling up the local LiftMaster dealer in my area.  I explained the problem and their representative seemed genuinely sympathetic – before informing me that the company only serviced businesses.  Fortunately, she had a name for a guy who served residential customers.  I called him up, presumably interrupting him in the midst of his afternoon nap.  I explained the problem and he seemed genuinely sympathetic – then informed me he was more of a "replacement" rather than a "repair" guy.  "Once one of those things goes, it's usually cheaper to replace it than fix it,"he assured me.  "You can get a new one for only two hundred fifty bucks."  Two hundred and fifty bucks?  Only?!  What deal!!  At that rock-bottom price, I'm thinking of getting one installed for every door in the house!  Can you imagine?  Never again having to go through the trouble of twisting the doorknob and pushing or – even worse – turning all the way around to shut the door behind you.  Hell, if I'd known they were only two hundred and fifty dollars a piece, I would have handed them out as Christmas gifts to all my friends who drive.  A simple push of the button would make entering and exiting their car as simple as opening and closing the car door themselves!  I mean, at these prices I'd be foolish NOT to purchase an entirely new system instead of simply addressing what may be nothing more than a minor glitch.

The other day, I prepared a couple of dishes inspired by mom's cooking…

 

Frittata – Mom never topped hers with cheddar but I highly recommend this untraditional way to go.





Wine-fed beef.  I'd read a lot about it and so, when I spotted them at a my local butcher the other day, I decided to try them out.  I marinated them for a couple of hours, then seasoned them liberally before searing both sides and finishing them in the oven.  They were cooked medium-rare and served with caramelized shallots and a Barbera d'Alba and pan juice reduction.  The verdict?  Meh.  I'm going to give the wine-fed beef proponents the benefit of the doubt and try again with a more marbled cut (maybe a rib-eye) next time.

I used to go out a lot.  And I do mean A LOT.  Hell, for the first eight or so years I was in Vancouver, I rare if ever ate dinner at home – and, when I did, I was usually ordering in. Things have changed though and now the reverse is true.  I cook at home A LOT and rarely go out for dinner.  But, occasionally, I do venture out.  Like the other night when I met up with my friends Jodi and Steve for dinner at Oru in the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.  We opted for the $49 Tasting Menu that was comprised of six courses but, strangely, dessert wasn't one of them.

 

Jodi and Steve

To start, a surprisingly good Baby Cos Lettuce salad with spiced almonds and orange in a coconut vinaigrette.  Then…

Cumin-Spiced Albacore Tuna served atop Indian Potato Salad with coriander.  The tuna was very good but the potato salad was an odd choice to partner with it.  Not bad, mind you, just an odd duo.

Next up was an excellent Sake Kasu Sablefish with gingered tomato and sweet miso.

I also enjoyed the Tandoor Roasted Lamb Chops with mint chutney.





Masala Chicken with potato fondant, braised fennel, cauliflower, and butter curry sauce.  The meat was texturally akin to pressed chicken.  Not a fan.  Akemi thought the potatoes the best thing she had all night.





Yellow Lentil and Cumin Dal with fall vegetable pakora and tomato chutney.  My favorite dish of the night.

Even though it wasn't included as part of our meal, Steve and I decided to order dessert.  I had a delightfully dense and decadent chocolate creation while Steve went with -

Oru's version of a smore.  Looked good but I found it a bit difficult to eat as the marshmallow top was not exactly fork friendly.

Although I wasn't blown away, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.  I tend to be suspicious of hotel restaurants, and doubly suspicious of restaurants that specialize in the all-encompassing Pan-Asian cuisine, but Oru availed itself nicely for the most part.

On the way out to get our coats, I spotted Jodi's footwear and had to snap a pic.

 

Crazy, no?

Anyway, back on the home front yesterday I was feeling very much like a contestant on Top Chef.  "For your QuickFire Challenge, you'll have to come up with three dishes to serve a vegetarian.  You have one hour.  And your time starts….now!"

 

The Sweet Potato Chipotle. I had originally wanted to do a version that incorporated alternating layers of yam - but couldn't find my yams.

The caponata wast tasty but overcooked - the result of trying to do too many things at once.

I also made a sweet chili broccoli stir-fry and, for dessert, a Kasu-Brown Sugar ice cream that proved a little too sweet but possessed a spectacular underlying sake flavor.

My other vegetarian friend, Lisa. Can't wait to read her review of my dinner.

A reminder to post those questions for author Marjorie M. Liu if you've got 'em!

January 18, 2011: Some Iron Hunt discussion! Fundraiser alert! And yet another mailbag!

The Iron Hunt discussion:

ponytail writes: "I've always thought I did not like zombies, but after reading this book and a couple other choices from your book of the month club (like Boneshaker), I have come to realize I have always liked zombies."

Answer: In all fairness, the zombies in this book are very different from the zombies of Boneshaker which are, in turn, different (but still closer to) the more traditional zombies like those found in The Walking Dead.  They're not of the mindless variety.

terryb writes: "I adore that the main character is a strong, capable woman from a line of strong capable women who have to make hard decisions but, at least in the case of Maxine, never entirely lose the softer side."

 

Answer: Yes, that's one of the things I really liked about the book as well.  Marjorie has a knack for crafting well-rounded, charismatic, kick-ass characters.  You should check out her heroine in "Call Her Savage", one of the stories in the Masked anthology of superhero fiction edited by Lou Anders.  Great stuff.

Sparrow_hawk writes: "The thing that didn't ring true for me is Maxine's romance with Grant. Okay, he's hot and well worth a fling , but he does so many things that are counter to Maxine's upbringing and mission that I have a hard time seeing why they are still together."

Answer: Well, opposites do attract and there has been many a case in real life when I've wondered "What the hell is he/she doing with her/him?".  In this case, however, I wonder if we would have benefited from reading the prequel story, "Hunter Kiss", that appeared in the Wild Thing anthology.

Sparrow_hawk also writes: "And Maxine's mission is to destroy everything that Grant is trying to save."

Answer: Which was a facet of the story that I really loved, those contradictory M.O.'s that end up leaving our protagonist deeply conflicted.  Applied to my life, it was like Grant's willingness to rehabilitate the demons and give them a chance was akin to Fondy's love for Grey's Anatomy.  In the end and all things considered, I hope it works out better for Maxine.

antisocialbutterflie writes: "I did wish that a little more time was spent on some of the lesser characters, particularly Jack, Sarai, and Tracker. There seemed to be a lot of potential there that was skimmed over to maintain the pacing."

Answer: What was revealed about these characters kept me engaged and, like you, left me wanting more.  I have a feeling we'll delve more into their respective backgrounds in the next couple of books in the series.

Fundraiser alert:

Michael Simpson of Cinema Spy dropped me an email to tell me about his fundraising efforts for the Make A Wish Foundation.   "I am trying to turn my

campaigning for SGU into something that doesn't just serve my wishes to see the show return but benefits other too." You can check it out here: http://www.justgiving.com/awishforstargate

Mailbag:

TheDudeDean writes: "Hey Joseph, is this your twitter account?

http://twitter.com/josephmallozzi"

Answer: Apparently so.  Exciting, no?

Raine writes: "Do the dogs do any tricks? "

Answer: Yes.  They eat on command.  And not on command.

dioxholster writes: "Joe, if SGU ever gets a third season on a different network, what will be the compromises we will have to live with if there will be any?"

Answer: A third season would be ideal, but the longest of longshots.  Any consideration of possible compromises would be meaningless conjecture at this point and serve no purpose.

dioxholster also writes: "Back then the plan was five seasons, but in all honesty were you guys ever willing to stretch it a bit for another extra season or two?"

Answer: Again, no point in considering far-fetched scenarios.  I will say that, at the time we were in production, we were always focused on the season at hand, comfortable in the knowledge that we did have an ending for the series in mind.

dioxholster also writes: "And during the brainstorm phases, was there any talks of a spin-off in the future had SGU been successful or was SGU planned to be the final stargate show?"

Answer: There was never any talk of another spin-off.

Bryan writes: "Joe, I know you have a more refined pallet.. but I have a simple "recipe" for delicious tomato pasta."

Answer: Hey, Brian – thanks for this.

kadaju writes: "Mr. Mallozzi, please help some nerds out. We crave the dimensions of Destiny."

Answer: The next time I see James Robbins, our Production Designer, I'll see if he has schematics or, at the very least, a ballpark of the ship's scale.  I just have to remember… Or, if VFX Supervisor Mark Savela happens by, he could probably answer the question.

Tenacious D writes: "So, why do the Wraith use organic material in their hives when it's obviously way less efficient and they had ten thousand years Ancient-free to upgrade their ships?"

Answer: The short answer is I don't know.  I would imagine it has to do with the fact that their architecture has always either been organic in nature or, at the very least, had an organic feel.  The reason could lie in the possibility/advantages of a ship with an inherent limited intelligence, especially when one considers the Queen's limited telepathic abilities.

dasNdanger writes: "Where can we send you fun stuff now?? Still the studio??"

Answer: Still the studio for now but, really, your presence here is all I need so no sense in sending me presents.

Escyos writes: "Say one were to dial all the gates in a galaxy at once and step through, what would happen? Would the matter simply be too degraded and simply fall apart? Would you exit at the nearest gate? Or one at random?"

Answer: No matter how precisely you time it, there will be some difference in timing.  Those who connect first will interrupt the dialing process and establish a stable wormhole while others will be unable to establish a connection because, for lack of a better way of putting it, "the line is busy" with a pre-established connection.

mrmichaelt writes: "On 1/17/11′s mailbag, you answered 80% of Destiny is left to be explored. On the series finale of Stargate Atlantis, how much of Atlantis was explored by the expedition?"

Answer: My guess?  60%.

mrmichaelt also writes: "Mortal Kombat just got greenlit for a 10 episode Internet-based webi-series. Are webi-series a possibility for SGU's future (i.e. posting new episodes on MGM's SGU website like how they currently do with full episodes of season 2, featurettes, the Kino webisodes, blogs, fan question submissions)?"

Answer: A webseries is not an option.

Casey Clubb writes: "I'm curious about Colonel Young's use of reading glasses which started toward the end of the first season, was there any particular significance to that?"

Answer: Not that I can recall.  I believe it was something Louis wanted to add to the character.

paloosa writes: "Will the ratings on the second half of SGU have any effect on whatever decisions are being made now for SGU?  And if David Hewlett's episode "Seizure" significantly increases the ratings, would that have any impact in reviving an SGA movie?"

Answer: Unfortunately, no to both.

paloosa also writes: "Can you still have Q&A's with folks we've come to know, even if it's on other projects they're doing?"

Answer: Sure.  If they're willing to take the time, I'd love to have 'em.

Zenophite writes: "I'm not sure if anyone has asked this yet but regarding Dr. Caine… He lived long enough to see the aliens arrival so did he in fact die the moment they got there (or soon thereafter) or is there something else going on?"

Answer: He was at the brink of death when they showed up – too late to save him.

Chris writes: "Are we allowed to create SGU fan videos using video and audio from SGU and upload it to YouTube?"

Answer: All photos and clips are the property of MGM Television.  What they will and won't allow is up to them.  I know of certain shows that have clamped down on fan videos.  To date, Stargate has not been one of them.

Josh writes: "Hey Joe, I was just wondering if any of the cast from SG-1 or SGA are going to be in any of the episodes of the back half of season 2?"

Answer: No.  Only Seizure.

Laurence Stachow writes: "I heared someone talking about buying the DVD's and Downloads from like ITUNES but will this really help?"

Answer: It certainly helps to keep the franchise viable and informs the studio that Stargate remains a sound investment.

MNP writes: "But in SGU there seemed to be a very… spiritual… tone to the characters. The whole attitude to the universe itself seemed different, more I guess mystical and willing to see things as simply beyond comprehension. Was this due to the situation? Was it just these particular characters? Was this a conscious decision for the show or did it just develop organically?"

Answer: I'd say all of the above.  SG-1 and Atlantis were more high adventure shows where the humor took precedence over moments of introspection.  That's not to say the shows weren't serious (the stakes were always big and both series dealt with their fair share of tragedy), only that they were more fun and lighter in tone.  Universe was darker and, as a result, offered more opportunity to explore more solemn aspects of our characters.

Jayenkai writes: "While we're mentioning David Hewlett, any idea what's going on with Starcrossed, lately?"

Answer: No idea.  You should swing by David's twitter account for the update.

pjt writes: "What do you think about the tone of the show in retrospect?  To me it looks like it was a great idea, back then when you started, to have a grittier, more realistic and dark Stargate show, but the then global crisis hit, people lost their jobs or had them in jeopardy, had to cut corners, and just couldn't find the strength to get involved with the problems of TV characters on a weekly basis. They instead looked for easy entertainment like Eureka and Warehouse 13, even Sanctuary for their hour of escapism."

Answer: I enjoyed the show's darker tone.  At the end of the day, you can spend fruitless hours second-guessing yourself but the truth is that if studios and networks knew for sure what audiences wanted, the prime time television schedule would be stacked with nothing but hit shows.

Lyle writes: "1) If a new SG series ever comes into play waaay down the road, do you have any ideas as to what you would use as the look-and-feel, storyline, and setting? Have you even thought about it?"

Answer: No idea.  Haven't thought about it and don't believe I ever will.

"2) When will we know about the fate of SGU (or the Stargate series itself)? You've been teasing it for several weeks now! Any time-line?"

Answer: No timeline.  Sooner is always better of course.

"3) Is there any chance we will see Joe Flanigan in Stargate again if no SGA movie is made? I miss that guy."

Answer: No idea at this point.

"4) How's Richard Dean Anderson doing? Is he willing to come back for a movie? Is he in the 2nd half of this season of SGU?"

Answer: From what I hear, Rick is doing great and still occasionally working in Vancouver.  No appearances planned for O'Neill in the back half of season 2.  As for possible movie appearances – no idea at this point.

Joa writes: "Will we be seing the SGC in season 2 ? Does Louis Ferreira speaks Portuguese?"

Answer: No and yes.  Check out the Louis vid in this post: November 3, 2010: Production Update! Stargate Pics! More of that Q&A with Louis Ferreira!

Tammy Dixon writes: "So if you had to choose between Disney and Universal, which would you pick?"

Answer: I vote Universal.

JenniferG writes: "Have you ever read Stephen kKng's Duma Key?"

Answer: Not yet, but it's on the list.

ZMo writes: "My question is how do you do it all? So many projects, so much time for the fans, so many hobbies? Do you sleep enough / at all? How do you not burnout?"

Answer: I firmly believe that a writer should write every day.  Maintaining a daily blog forces me to form and express semi-coherent thoughts and that, in the end, will hopefully make me a better writer.

Rich A writes: "In SG1′s Prototype, if Khalek had been allowed to ascent, could he have gone and rescued ol' Dad from the fight with Oma?"

Answer: IF (and it's a pretty big IF) he had been allowed to ascend then, yes, theoretically he could have tried to help.

Rich A also writes: "Following on from that, must have been a bit lonely at the ascended top there for Adria for a while. Could her and Khalek have, uh, made a go of things?"

Answer: Don't think he was her type.

Rich A also writes: "I'm a UK fan and it's a shame that international viewership doesn't seem to matter one bit as to whether series like these get renewed or not "

Answer: But international viewers DO matter.  They are one important piece of a very big, often complicated puzzle.

LoneThread writes: "How can radio communications work 2-way through a Stargate? Radio is Light (Photons) therefor matter. So the one way restriction should apply here. And also there should be a delay while the matter traverses the wormhole."

Answer: All good questions that I don't have an answer for.  I'd say 2-way communications work because that's what was established from the beginning.  It's sort of like wondering why do the inhabitants of every planet SG-1 visited speak English?  Again, it was another conceit that was established early on in the series.  In my mind, however, I assumed journeying through a wormhole "gifted" travelers with translator nanites that allowed them to understand and, in turn, be understand (in most cases.  Goa'uld was a rare exception).

RedFlames writes: "Do you watch any non-US TV shows [anime excluded] and if so what [and if not are there any that have made you think 'oooh.... i'd watch that if they showed it']?"

Answer: Spooks, Wire in the Blood and, of course, The Office are three UK productions that come to mind.

levent writes: "1. Aren't there any ancient medical devices or hand weapons on board Destiny designed by Ancients? TJ should not suffer that much as a medic!"

Answer: Check out the back of season 2.

"2. Will (would ) we see Destiny's exact location in relation to earth, some number of light years etc? Will we have detailed specs of the ship (speed etc)?"

Answer: Nope.  Nothing so specific onscreen.

"3 – This is pretty streching but is there any chance Tauri would ally with Langara for use of their Naquadria to dial Destiny?"

Answer: See Seizure.

"4 – Is it safe to assume Rush and Young will have a more stabilised relationship from now on?"

Answer: It isn't safe to assume anything when Rush is involved.

Scott_land writes: "I know Destiny is way the heck out in space but is there any chance that we might see something more dealing with the Furling or Ancient people (if there is a third season)? Could a couple from either group have struck out on their own a long time ago that we might see them now?"

Answer: All possibilities.

nate writes: "Good luck with your future endeavors and I"ll still hold out for more Stargate. But no more comments on your blog."

Answer: You will be missed, my friend.

maggiemayday writes: "Have you read The Shining? Far, far better than any movie incarnation, Jack or not. I do love me some Jack."

Answer: Haven't read The Shining, but liked the movie a lot.  It's interesting that, apparently, King wasn't that big a fan.

Shadow Step writes: "Wow, I hope you are sure that Kat didn't get an IP from a pool or posted from a place where other people use computers –"

Answer: The timing was way too good.

Jimbo writes: "But I must ask, do you watch Dexter? I am really getting into this show. I ask because I noticed you mentioned that a pilot in waiting is dark and humorous, which is what I would classify Dexter. And that characters are deep and well written. One of the best shows on today, aside from House, SGU, and Castle. Agree?"

Answer: Watched the first season of Dexter and haven't seen Castle (although I've heard good things).  I do watch House.

Arctic Goddess writes: "Speaking of which, are you going to bring back The Weird Food Purchase Of The Day"?"

Answer: If I can find something appropriately weird to eat, sure.  Maybe I'll just open up that bottle of clam juice sitting in my fridge.

max writes: "Joe, are you a fan or follower of J. Michael Straczynski by any chance?"

Answer: I really enjoyed what I read of Rising Stars and watched the first 3 seasons of Babylon 5 before getting distracted by life.

John M. Hammer writes: "Fortunately, as fellow Mac users, we have a way around this. Take a look at this bit of software:

DVD Player Patch 20101106 for Mac

http://download.cnet.com/DVD-Player-patch/3000-13632_4-75324910.html?tag=mncol;8

If you prefer to watch your DVDs on a screen other than your Mac's, remember that Macs have video out which can drive even very large 1080p displays."

Answer: Much obliged, sir.

January 17, 2011: The Iron Hunt, by Marjorie M. Liu

Maxine Kiss is the latest in a long line of demon hunters.  It's a responsibility with Earth-shaking consequences, both blessing and curse, bestowed upon her by her mother who received it from her mother who, in turn, had it passsed down to her from her mother before her, and so on dating back some thousand years.  Her weapons against the forces of evil are demons themselves – dormant during the day when they assume the form of tattoos that adorn her body, they awaken at night to do her bidding.  Theirs is a symbiotic relationship.  She depends on them to keep her alive while they keep her alive knowing that her death would mean the end for them as well.  However, both are also well aware of the fact that, one day, Maxine will pass her demon-hunting legacy down to her daughter – and, when that day comes, her former demonic allies will abandon her, leaving her at the mercy of her merciless enemies.

Against common demon hunter sense, Maxine has elected to settle down and enter into a relationship.  Things seem to be going swimmingly - or as swimmingly as possible given her profession – until the police show up at the homeless shelter run by her boyfriend, Grant, asking about her.  It turns out a private detective was found murdered on the bad side of town and search of his person turned up a newspaper clipping with her name written on it.

Maxine's investigation into the matter leads her to Bloody Mama, the Zombie Queen, who charges Maxine with a formidable task.  Millennia ago, Earth was the battleground of a great war that culminated in the defeat of an army of demons and their imprisonment in a dimensional fortress.  But, over time, the walls of that once formidable fortress have weakened and soon, the veil separating the two realities will be breached, allowing the long-contained demons free reign.  And only Maxine Kiss can stop them.

It's great premise with an even greater character in Maxine, a powerful warrior with a surprising amount of depth, much of it conveyed through her relationship with Grant.  Although charged with the task of ridding the world of evil forces, Maxine is conflicted.  The violent means she has long used to deal with the darklings runs counter to the measures presently used by the man she loves.  Instead of destroying demons, he rehabilitates them through the power of music, demonstrating an alternate, if not preferable method of dealing with them.  But old habits die hard, especially ones reinforced through generations of demon hunting, and Maxine finds herself torn.  Exacerbating matters for her is Byron, an orphan, who she takes under her wing after saving him from a zombie attack.  He is both a problem for her and a potential target for her enemies, and her developing relationship with Byron and her role as his protector also shines some wonderful light on her dark, often pained, persona.  It's the perfect compliment to the novel's setting, Seattle, whose grey skies and somber environs offer a grim backdrop to the action.  But like the book and Maxine herself, the city's shadows also offer the possibility of brightness and hope. 

These hints of illumination are sprinkled throughout the book, occasionally hinted at in surprising developments, often displayed in the  flashes of humor delivered by the likes of the most unlikeliest of characters: Tracker, a fearsome yet contradictorily comic force to be reckoned with, and Maxine's own demons, "the boys", led by the mischievous Zee.  They go a long way toward not only rounding out Maxine's character, but keeping the reader engaged throughout.

Overall a very enjoyable read although I did find the beginning of the novel a tad overwhelming.  The reader is dropped headlong into the story and there were moments when I wasn't sure what was going on (and I briefly considered hunting down the prequel and reading it first), but I was able to play catch and, eventually, I came to appreciate the author's unwillingness to spoonfeed the details and, instead, push us to piece together the narrative just as Maxine rises to the challenge and pieces together the multiple mysteries that drive her.

The Iron Hunt is fast-paced and fraught with enough twists and turns to earn itself a place as urban fantasy's answer to The Big Sleep.  No one and no thing is who or what they seem and there are secrets around every corner.  Liu's prose style flows effortlessly between sparse and succinct to lyrical and almost poetic in its imagery.  A nice change of pace for me and a pleasant surprise.

So, those were my initial thoughts.  What did everyone else think?  Start posting your questions for author Marjorie M. Liu!

Mailbag:

kat writes: "I just wanted to say that it is really cool how you answer everyone's questions on here.  People attack you but you don't filter it you just post it like it is."

Answer: Thanks, kat.  Truth is there are occasions when I do moderate comments – for intance, if it's spam, offensive, or what I would term "generally douchey" such as, for example, the comments you've been trying to post under an alternate screen name.  Thanks for stopping by.  Now, off you go, back to your angry little corner of the internet.

Diageo writes: "I'm having a weird problem. My comments keep disappearing? Seems like some kind of WordPress glitch?"

Answer: Sorry, kat/Diageo.  I'll look into the issue and get back to you within the next 3-5 days.  Please stand by. 

Tim writes: "Would it be completely off base to say that the Stargate franchise is dead on SyFy after SGU ends its run?"

Answer: Well, never say never but let me put it this way – Next year, I doubt I'll be paying another $21.30 postage due on their annual Christmas gift.

Deni writes: " Ok, if two Goa'uld mated, supposedly the child born to them would have all the genetic knowledge of all the Goa'uld, right? In "Forever in a Day", there was a mention that the child would also know all the secrets of the Goa'uld, as well. I guess what hubby wanted to know was if it only the Harsesis would have all that information or if a single Goa'uld would know the same things."

Answer: No, the child would be far more formidable because the knowledge possessed would be genetic in source.  The same couldn't be said for individual goa'ulds.

hal ehrlich writes: "In the past (SG1 and Atlantis) when someone would walk through the gate we would see a short little scene where you saw a wormhole and then they appeared to come out of the new gate.

Now when someone walks through the gate you hear a little noise for a split second then they appear to come through the other gate.

Did you decide not to do the wormhole scene since these gates dont travel too far compared to the gates in the Mikly Way and Pegasus galaxies ?"

Answer: No, I think it was simply a stylistic choice intended to diffentiate the look and feel of the shows.

Bryan writes: "Hi Joe, given the finite size of the Destiny.. but potentially unlimited nature of fiction, what pseudo-percentage of the ship remains unexplored?"

Answer: Probably around eighty percent.  In the back half of season 2, the crew begins to check out these unexplored sections of the ship.  And they make an incredible discovery (see The Hunt).

Bryan also writes: "What OS do you use personally? traditionalist Windows on PC, OSX on Mac?"

Answer: I'm a recent Mac convert.

dasNdanger writes: "See, if I knew you were still doing mailbag questions, I would have asked you more stuff!!! Like…can you sing? Or…do you listen to Sinatra? Or…what's the worst thing you ever did to your sister? Or…does Todd have any other tattoos that we can't see? If so, how do YOU know??!"

Answer: Can't sing, don't listen to Sinatra, I once let her take the blame for my drawing stick figures on the wall, he has a heart-shaped tattoo on his right butt cheek, Carl told me.

Alex writes: "I bought a copy of the commemorative SG-1: Celebration of 10 years book from Gateworld. I assume you have it as well and was wondering if yours has like 15 duplicate pages in it right smack in the middle?"

Answer: No, but mine does have a well-chewed corner compliments of one of my dogs.

Quade writes: "Do you think syfy might be sitting on the remaining episodes of SGU to drum up publicity and viewership? And if so, do you think it could help in getting a renewal or pickup elsewhere?"

Answer: No and unlikely.

Michael writes: "Will we see the Ancients in some form, either human or ascended in the back half of season 2?"

Answer: Nope.

Johnny writes: "In the realm of anime, have you ever given GunxSword a watch?"

Answer: Couldn't get into it.

Patricia Lee writes: "If you launch your comic book series this year, will you and Paul be attending COMIC-CON in San Diego this year?"

Answer: Probably.

Shawna Buchanan writes: "Can you explain why Simeon was allowed to just wander around the ship menacing people in a clearly villainous way with only one guy guarding him when everyone else who they had even the least cause to suspect of potentially doing something bad was kept under lock and key?"

Answer: All of the Lucian Alliance members were kept under lock and key until they (seemingly) started cooperating with Homeworld Command at which point they were permitted limited freedom under escort.

Josh writes: "Would earth be in any great danger from a Lucian alliance attack? I mean, they got some pretty nice tech now from Atlantis and from the Asgard, so it almost seems that if the Lucian alliance would decide to attack earth, it wouldn't really be as big of a threat as everyone is acting like in SGU. Anyway, whats your take on this?"

Answer: Alliances.  Season 2.

Rich writes: "Sort of touching on a previous post by someone else – is the question of getting a SG-1 or SGA movie into production solely a question of money?"

Answer: Nope.  There are a bunch of other issues as well.

Mihai Marius writes: "Is it possible that Amanda Perry is not dead?"

Answer: Hope.  Season 2.

Sparrow_hawk writes: "So, Joe: did you know that Sets 2 and 3 of Gintama are available?"

Answer: It's on my list of dvd's to pick up.  Would you happen to know whether or not it's Funimation.  After suffering through two Funimation shows (Baccano and Claymore) that MAKE YOU sit through the previews for upcoming releases (you can't fast-forward through them; you have to watch them EVERY TIME you want to watch a new episode) I am done with them.

Fulring writes: "Somebody posted a question about solar flares intercepting wormhole while recharging and we know that episode 2.12 'Twin Destinies' deals with Rush coming back from the future, is this going to happen on the mentioned way?"

Answer: Maybe.  Maybe not.

Furling also writes: "What happened with Tria (Aurora-class battleship from 'The Return')? Is it left between galaxies?"

Answer: Yes, still there.

noelm writes: "I've lost track of all the new projects you have a'cooking. Can you run through them again for us?"

Answer: One comic book series in the works, two t.v. pilots (horror-comedy and dramedy) ready to go, two more pilots (dark comedy, fantasy) being written.  Also beating out a possible SF novel.

g.o.d. writes: "if SGU gets another season, movies, miniseries or whatever the plan is, will we find out who the Planet builders are and why did they build Eden? And the nature of the obelisk?"

Answer: That was the plan if we had gotten that third season pick up.

asdasdg writes: "Destiny has a subspace link with all the seed ships so is it possible that one or two could have retraced steps to come rescue Destiny while it was being attacked by the Blueberry Aliens only to reach Destiny when it is fighting the Drone Command Ship?"

Answer: No because the seed ships are so far out in advance of Destiny that they would never get there in time to offer assistance.

asdasdg also writes: "Why didn't the Seed Ship have a lockout on the navigational controls like Destiny did with the master code?"

Answer: The seed ships don't contain the valuable data Destiny possesses.  Liken them to bees.  Destiny is the queen.  The seed ships are the worker bees. 

Ian Z. also writes: "You said that you guys would handle it better, and that's obvious because I'm an outsider. My question was what you thought of it? Have you guys been doing this stuff? Or are you also an outsider?"

Answer: Trust me when I say that every possibility is being looked into.

TheSGC writes: "You think Brett Favre is coming back?"

Answer: Channeling Carl Binder – He announced his retirement so, yeah, he'll probably come back.

max writes: "Was the plan all along from the conception of the series to kill off the potential girlfriend of Eli ,and also Simon the villan?Or was that done later on due to budget concerns?"

Answer: Nope, that was always the plan.

max also writes: "

One other question: has most of the non-Canadian cast members moved from vancouver back to their country since the announcement of the cancellation?"

Answer: Yes.

Major Davis writes: "I know the priority is on SGU, which makes sense, but you've said several times that Brad's plan will revive all three limbs of the franchise. However, when asked about SG-1 and SGA, you say you don't know whether Revolution and Extinction will get made (should SGU get revived)….. Which leads me to wonder, how does BW's plan include SGA and SG-1?"

Answer: You'll have to wait and see. 

maggiemayday writes: "How are you enjoying The Stand?"

Answer: Read both The Stand and The Dome and I have to sayI prefer King's shorter novels (ie. Misery).

Randomness writes: "Have you seen Dokuro Chan Joe?"

Answer: No, but I'm intrigued.

Gimpy writes: "Any posibility that a major motion picture would be made that is stargate based? As was the case with star trek after it was originally canceled."

Answer: There's certainly a possibility, but I'd imagine something like that wouldn't happen for a while.

Jeffrey writes: "And you do realize that SG-1 wasn't averaging a 2.0 in its last year, right? It was somewhere around a 1.4."

Answer: I wasn't arguing that Atlantis was responsible for any decline, simply pointing out that you can skew the numbers to bolster any argument of your choosing.  If not SG-1′s last year, then feel free to pick the previous year, or the year before that.