Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 560
November 3, 2010
November 3, 2010: Production Update! Stargate Pics! More of that Q&A with Louis Ferreira!
Finished up the script for the second issue of the comic book. It was a little tricky getting used to the format – and, truth be told, there are still elements that don't make sense to me. It took me about a week to write the script for issue #1 (which is comprised of the tease and first two acts of the pilot), then, having got the hang of it, about a day and a half to write the script for issue #2 (comprised of the final three acts of the pilot including the big reveal). Paul will go over them this weekend and they'll hopefully be in our editor's hands by late next week – at which point the search for a suitable artist will kick into high gear. I'll also send off to an email to Kevin and Dave and get the official okay to release the details on the future comic/graphic novel/t.v. series and/or movie.
Other interesting projects loom including one that – if all falls into place – will see us re-teamed with an old friend who'll be BEHIND the camera this time.
On the SGU side, we're all focused on episode #20, Gauntlet, which starts shooting next week. This one'll raise (and singe) a few eyebrows – and set the stage for some major season 3 developments.
I think Ashleigh may be losing her mind. Today, she insisted Rhianna was better than The Prodigy. With a straight face no less! Puleeeze. The trifecta of Invaders Must Die, Stand Up, and Breathe alone blows away the entire career output of Rhianna, Beyonce, Celine, and those other four clones combined. I mean, seriously.
Over the past few days, several of you have asked me to dish on some of the stories we had in mind for Stargate: Atlantis's sixth season. I actually covered this in a blog entry not long after the show's cancellation. In it, I list not one, not two, but twenty of the ideas we had in store: http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/september-30-2008-an-au-season-6/
My Snow Monkeys just completed their first trade, sending WR Lance Moore to the Ken Ga Roo Colts in exchange for RB Brandon Jackson. With Marshawn Lynch floundering behind that weak Seahawk OL, I'll happily take the Packer running back hosting the woeful Cowboys in Green Bay. Having Robert Meachem made the trade all that easier. Who needs two Saints receivers anyway? Especially this season.
Art Department work for episode 203, Awakening.
Destiny docks with the seed ship.
In the room, we kept alternating between calling it a "seed" ship and a "seeder" ship until Paul got fed up with everyone suggesting this spaceship may actually have been made out of cedar (as opposed to, say, pine) and requested we stick to "seed ship".
The lovely Julie McNiven kickin' back between set-ups for episode…well, an episode you haven't seen yet.
A wonderful actress and an incredible sweetheart.
That's what you call a "hull breach".
They don't get much breachier.
What secrets lie beyond these doors?
Tune in to next week's episode to find out.
And if you're going to bring snacks, make sure you have enough for everyone.
Hey! HEY! Where the hell does Atlantis think IT'S going?!!
It's Wednesday afternoon and that means…
It's Carl's turn to play in the magic circle!!!
And more from my sit-down with actor Louis Ferreira, Stargate: Universe's Colonel Everett Young.
Today's question: What is your favorite genre to work in and why?
His answer will no doubt surprise.
And confuse.
November 2, 2010
November 2, 2010: New SGU! Snow Monkeys Pull Off Incredible Comeback! Stargate Set Pics!
Well, aren't we popular?
Snow Monkeys Win! Snow Monkeys Win! Down 17+ points going into the Monday night game, my Snow Monkeys scratched, bit, and clawed their way to victory over the Vancity Viktors, improved their record to 3-5, and positioned themselves one game out of that final playoff spot.
Set guests David and Tiffany joined us on set via the Stargate Auction by Propwerx. The proceeds of David's winning bid went to the B.C. Children's Hospital.
A new episode of Stargate: Universe airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. on SyFy – and it's one of my favorites: Trial and Error. For a sneak peek at tonight's action as well as a little insight from actress Alaina Huffman (SGU's Lieutenant Tamara "TJ" Johansen) head on over to Curt Wagner's blog:
And, while you're in the neighborhood, why not check out Curt's behind-the-scenes piece on that outtake from episode 3, Awakening, that has been making the internet rounds:
David Blue gives his best "blue steel".
A couple of very dusty days on set saw various members of the cast and crew walking around, doing some spot-on imitations of ghosts, ghouls, and the living dead. Actor Louis Ferreira stopped by my office to chat and ended up leaving a powder trail of oat, bran, and what I believe to be wood shavings in his wake.
Mike Dopud flexes some Lucian muscle.
Now go watch Stargate: Universe, then come back here and let me know your thoughts.
Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular Lisa R. and her hubby.
November 1, 2010
November 1, 2010: Snow Monkeys, Zombies, and Louis Ferreira!
Curse the Seattle Seahawks' offensive line and the team's inability to establish a running game. Thanks to them – and several other notable underachievers, my Snow Monkeys head into tonight's Monday night game needing a monster night from both QB Matt Schaub and RB Arian Foster to pull off an unlikely week 8 victory. At this point, it's not looking good. Thanks-for-nothings also go out to WR's Dez Bryant and Brandon Marshall. Also, TE Tony Moeaki. As the regulation time was ticking down in the KC game, I was cursing myself for having unwittingly started an inactive player only to realize that Moeaki WAS active – but only in the theoretical sense. I'm hitting the waiver wire hard tomorrow.
Anyone watch the premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead? That's a rhetorical question because, in fact, MANY did. 5.3 million viewers is pretty damn impressive and, frankly, well-deserved. Beautifully shot and wonderfully written with great performances all around. And, have to agree with #1 zombie fan Ivon Bartok – those were probably the best-looking zombies I've ever seen. Creepy good!
Louis Ferreira (a.k.a. Stargate: Universe's Colonel Everett Young) swung by my office today to say hi – giving me the opportunity to throw a few more of your fan questions at him. Today's question -
How was it to have Robert Carlyle as a director for one episode of season two?
Great answer – up until he's interrupted by my cellphone's Yolandi Visser ringtone…
October 31, 2010
October 31, 2010: My (potential) Halloween Haul
I prepared for Halloween night by swinging by my local eclectic sweet shop and picking up a bunch of candy I'd personally enjoy eating in the very likely event a grand total of four kids end up visiting the house like last year. Among the highlights of the selection -
Fun Dip: What kind of a mad genius came up with this? Edible dipping sticks and multi-flavored powder in individual pockets. It just seemed like too much trouble when I was young – which is exactly why I picked them up. What better way to instill children with a work ethic? Either that or really annoy them. Win win.
Cigarette candy: I thought this stuff was outlawed! How politically incorrect. I mean, how could I NOT hand this out to those impressionable little tykes. They'll be the coolest looking kids in the schoolyard.
Blood Suckers: No idea, but vampires are hot. Surprisingly, no tie-in treats for similarly hot commodities like zombies and Chilean miners.
Sweet Tarts: I only picked these up because the guys at work like them. Don't repeat that.
Bottlecaps: I loved these as a kid! Root beer, please. I always kind of wished they'd make Fresca as well.
Pop Rocks: I'll dispense along with some sound advice – well, actually, more a completely baseless urban legend of the kid who ate them while drinking cola and blew his head off. Awesome.
Nerds and Razzles: No idea. They just sound Halloweeen appropriate. I wouldn't be surprised if they were the same thing.
Variations of the sour theme: This stuff is truly horrid. So I figure the kids'll love it. Needless to say, these'll be the first to go.
October 30, 2010
October 30, 2010: A Difficult Admission…
Normally, this blog is a place of refuge for me from some of life's grimmer realities. It's a sanctuary of sorts, an online oasis where the focus is on food and fun, production and puppies – although, occasionally, it does touch on a few of the hardships I've faced: The sheer impossibility of eating a mango!. Well, today, this blog takes a serious turn. I'm setting aside the hilarity to touch on a personal issue I've long denied but can no longer ignore. It needs to be addressed, and I've decided that the best way to do so is to come clean. Publicly.
They say that the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well, I have a problem.
I am a fantasy football junkie.
I know, I know. I look perfectly normal. But the truth is it's all an elaborate facade – the work productivity, the genial social interaction, my seeming ability to hold a conversation without having my mind drift to whether or not I should bench Lance Moore this Sunday. There was a time I looked down on fantasy football enthusiasts with their seemingly endless obsessing over game stats and the latest injury reports. I felt actually sorry for them, these shells of human beings, wondering how any sane person could allow themselves to fall so far.
Well, when it happened to me, I didn't even see it coming. I remember the day. I was sitting in my office, talking to Ivon, when a member of the production crew swung by and asked whether we'd be interested in joining the Stargate NFL Fantasy League. To be perfectly honest, I'd dabbled in the softer stuff (ie. the annual NCAA office pool) but Fantasy Football was something I'd never end considered trying. Ivon, no doubt sensing danger, passed, but I thought "What the hell!" and signed up. What was the harm in a little experimentation? I figured it would be a minor distraction, something to make NFL Sundays just a little more interesting. And it was. Until my Snow Monkeys lost their first game despite scoring a respectable 84.14 points. I was disappointed. Still, the fact that the team put in a good showing despite the loss gave me hope that we could turn things around. And, come week two, we did even better, improving on the previous week's showing by putting up 99.08.
Only to lose again.
At this point, I was passed annoyed. If the whole league was averaging 100 points or so, I'd have dismissed it as part of the game, but the fact was few teams were scoring more points than I was in those first few weeks – only the teams I happened to be playing! I decided that my Snow Monkeys could benefit from a little more attention, just enough to secure me that first win after which I would ease up. That's all I wanted. Just that one win after which I could redirect my focus back to more mundane matters (ie. work, relationships, remembering to feed the dogs, etc.). So I began paying more attention to stats and the latest injury reports, reading expert analysis and adjusting my line-up accordingly. In short, I had started down that slippery slope. Still, I went into week 3 with a certain sense of confidence that my luck was about to turn. I ended up scoring a respectable 84.94 points.
Only to lose to yet another 100+ point! W-T-F?!!!
THAT did it! I shifted full focus to my Snow Monkeys, cutting the dead weight and scouring the waiver wire for sleepers. I redoubled my efforts to secure that first win – wading through endless stats, injury reports, and expert analyses from first thing in the morning to late into the night. And then, finally, week four: 99.98 points and my first win! I was ecstatic. I'd never felt so alive! I've seen people go on about the almost transcendent bliss of shooting heroin for the first time or witnessing the birth of their first child born, but surely those experiences couldn't compare to what I felt at that moment. My first win! I was on a roll! My Snow Monkeys were unstoppable! It was an exhilarating high.
That was followed by a crushing low the following week when I lost to the undefeated Militia.
Finally, last Monday, I hit rock bottom after my Monkeys put up 103.06 points only to bow to the All-Stars' 113.66. And it was while I lay awake in bed that night, anxious, sweating, regretting Percy Harvin's inability to get that second foot down in the endzone and my decision to start Robert Meachem of the hapless Saints over gimpy Cowboys' wideout Dez Bryant that I realized I had a problem.
So, like I said, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. With that done, I've moved onto step #2: benching Robert Meachem in favor of Dez Bryant. I feel better already. Thanks for allowing me to get this off my chest and for being so supportive and understanding. Pray for me. And also pray for my Snow Monkeys who go into this weekend with Matt Schaub as their quarterback facing the Colts in Indy.
Now, I'd like to a moment to shine the spotlight of shame on the enablers who continue to help feed my addiction on a weekly basis -
Name: Tim
Team: Tim Holtby's Militia
Record: 6-1
Season highlight to date: Starting 6-0 and simply crushing the competition along the way.
Season lowlight to date: Beaten by a team with a starter on IR and a logo depicting a pug in a pink sweater.
Name: Tio
Team: Tio's Nuclear Explosion (But it changes every week).
Record: 4-3
Season highlight to date: Pulling off massive multi-player trade to land Titans' RB Chris Johnson in a playoff push.
Season lowlight to date: That mysterious "member of the production crew" I mentioned who was dispensing fantasy league slots like not so much as cheap crack? Look no further.
Name: Mike
Team: Bailey's Irish Creamers
Record: 4-3
Season highlight to date: That impressive 4-0 start to the season.
Season lowlight to date: The ensuing three weeks. In the words of Fred Willard's Mike Lafontaine: "Wha happened?".
Name: Ken
Team: Ken Ga Roo Colts
Record: 4-3
Season highlight to date: Any week the Indianapolis Colts do well since his team is made up of most of their players. No doubt he'd have drafted their towel boy if there'd been room on his roster.
Season lowlight to date: Week 7 = Indianapolis colts BYE week. Ouch.
Name: Dave
Team: Dave's All Stars
Record: 4-3
Season highlight to date: Beating my Snow Monkeys last weekend despite my scoring 100+ points and his losing his QB early in the game.
Season lowlight to date: Well, as far as I'm concerned, see above.
Name: Ian
Team: Ian's Lightning
Record: 4-3
Season highlight to date: Not dropping Raiders' RB Darren McFadden when he was injured, then starting him in week 7 for 111 points!
Season lowlight to date: A 1-3 start including an anemic 49.70 week 4 performance that included a failure to start a TE – even though he had two riding the bench.
Name: Chad
Team: Vancity Viktors
Record: 4-3
Season highlight to date: A late three game win streak including last weekend's impressive 131.74 point offensive display.
Season lowlight to date: Hopefully this weekend when they receive an epic beatdown at the paws of the fearsome Snow Monkeys. Also, last week's decision to start a player on his BYE week was, in retrospect, a suspect strategy.
Name: Daryl (not pictured)
Team: I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!
Record: 3-4
Season highlight to date: Three straight 100+ point games.
Season lowlight to date: Where to begin? If his team management skills were as good as his trash-talking, he'd be undefeated. A week after sitting WR Brandon Lloyd – who went on to put up 25.50 points – he declares a Meathead award to be bestowed upon the team owner who makes the worst managerial decision of the weekend…then gives himself the award the following week for benching Roy Williams who goes on to put up 14.80 points. He rectified this error by starting Roy Williams the following week – for a grand total of 0.00 points. The week after that, poor managerial decisions result in his leaving 23.70 points on the bench. It culminates in a meltdown post in which he harangues the other team owners for not taking his trade offers seriously enough, then derides their managerial decisions.
Unable to download the actual team logo. But this is pretty damn close.
Name: Sarah
Team: Petunia's Crew
Record: 3-4
Season highlight to date: Beating the formerly unbeaten Militia last week.
Season lowlight to date: Starting an inactive player against the unbeaten Militia (and still winning! Okay, maybe we can move this one up to the highlight section).
Name: Come on! You know my name!
Team: The Snow Monkeys
Record: 2-5
Season highlight to date: That first glorious win in week 4.
Season lowlight to date: Last weekend's bitter, bitter defeat despite another 100+ point performance. I mean COME ON!!!
Name: Ryan
Team: Kozmynka
Record: 2-5
Season highlight to date: Managing to eke out a week 7 win with Jay Cutler as his quarterback.
Season lowlight to date: Trading away RB Chris Johnson. Have a feeling that move will come back to haunt.
Name: Troy
Team: TRM
Record: 2-5
Season highlight to date: Snagging Wide Receiver Kenny Britt off waivers!
Season lowlight to date: Having Kenny Britt score 40.50 points – while sitting on his bench. Team TRM goes on to lose the weekend match-up by 12.
With six playoff spots up for grabs and seven more weeks to go in our fourteen week Fantasy League season, we're all still in it!
Some more than others.
SNOW MONKEYS RULE!!!
Tagged: fantasy football, NFL fantasy football
October 29, 2010
October 29, 2010: SyFy Vice President of Original Programming and Development Erika Kennair Answers Your Questions! + A Stargate: Universe Outtake (at the bottom of the entry)!
Today, it gives me pleasure to turn this blog over to the all-around awesome Erika Kennair – dog-lover, network point person, and SyFy VP of Original Programming and Development – who finally came up for air to answer your burning questions. A big thanks to Erika for taking the time to chat – and, of course, for her tireless support of our show. If she was starring in her own series, I would tune in to watch her. Live rather than downloading or dvr'ing. I'm that big a fan!
Sorry Folks. The past few months have been incredibly hectic. Awesome, ridiculously productive, but non-stop. I'm not sure I've been in Los Angeles for more than a few days at a time since July. Since then, there was Comic Con, I shot a pilot in Toronto, launched new seasons of SGU and Sanctuary, ushered in Smackdown, and had the priviledge of working on webseries, Riese. Among other things. In exciting news, I was promoted to Vice President of Original Programming and Development at Syfy in that time period as well.
I'd like to thank Joe for his patience. Today I pinky-swore that I'd get this Q&A to him tonight. And I don't back down on pinky-swears. So here it is.
"How did you come to be Syfy's Director of Development?"
EK: I moved from New Orleans to Los Angeles to pursue a Masters Degree in Screenwriting, with a goal to write children's programming. While in school I also worked full-time to pay the bills and to learn more about the industry around me. First I worked in TV Research at Paramount, pulling ratings at 6 in the morning. It was gruesome to get up that early and then immediately do something detail oriented, but it taught me so much about how television works and what viewers watch in different parts of the country. From there I went to Twentieth Century Fox as an intern, and my job was to collate the different drafts of scripts. I paid attention to what kind of changes were being made, and that helped me to really understand the production side of television. After that I got a full-time job at Fox Searchlight as an Assistant in Post Production. Not only was Searchlight an AMAZING place to work (Napoleon Dynamite, Water, Millions, Notes on a Scandal), but working in post taught me how to look at a story and fix it once it all that was left to do was rearrange the pieces. I was there for about 2 years before I graduated from LMU.
By the time I was ready to graduate, I was really torn between pursuing a career in writing, or one as an executive. All I knew was that I loved the creative process, but I still hadn't found my place in the world. Within 2 weeks of graduation, I was awarded a Humanitas Prize for a Bernie Mac Spec Script that I wrote. The specific award was an Angell Fellowship in Comedy Writing, in the name of David Angell, who was a writer and Executive Producer on Cheers, Wings and Frasier. Unfortunately he and his wife Lynn, were on the first plane on 9/11. The Humanitas Prize started a Comedy Fellowship in his name to help new comedy writers get their start. I was so honored, but at the same time, so unbelievably conflicted, since I had the bizarre urge to be an executive. So I went on writer meetings, which as Joe can tell you are quite fascinating. I got a freelance job on a cartoon, which I will not name, and they never paid me, so you won't be able to find it online. The job was beyond frustrating. I got notes that were so hard to understand, my favorite being, "Would a flea say that?". So it got me thinking, "If I was on the other side of that desk, I'd let the fleas speak their mind." Shortly thereafter, I met the best man in the industry, Ted Frank, who used to be the head of Current Programs at NBC. He was looking for someone to run the Diversity Initiative for Writers at NBC, scouting new writers for the network. I called the Humanitas people, said I was going to be switching over to the dark side, and much to my surprise, they were incredibly supportive. David Angell's career started and stayed at NBC, and Ted Frank was the executive who shepherded David's shows. The fellowship trustees were happy that I'd be learning from someone who meant so much to David. I took it as a sign.
The next three years were amazing, finding new talent, starting a writer's fellowship, Writers on the Verge and working to launch people's careers. Eventually I decided it was time to move on to my next adventure. Our Human Resources Dept told me that Sci Fi (this was 2008) was looking for an executive. Um, the Battlestar Channel? Um, the Channel that had those amazing movies and the channel that tried to launch The Amazing Screw On Head as a series with Bryan Fuller and Mike Mignola?????? So, I calmly went in and met with Mark Stern. We hit it off, he sent me away with a Eureka first draft, a Sanctuary Producer's Cut of an episode and a pilot script. I came back with my thoughts and he hired me on the spot. Phew – that was a long story. You guys still there?
"On a typical day from start to finish, what is your workload like?"
EK: It really depends on the day and where my shows are in their cycle. I cover SGU, Sanctuary, Outer Space Astronauts, WWE Smackdown, a pilot called Three Inches, some movie events (the upcoming Neverland) and several projects you may or may not know about that are in development. It's my job to be the cheerleader for my series, balancing the show's wants and needs with that of the network in order to hopefully make everyone happy and get the best ratings possible. I give notes on scripts and cuts, as well as drafts of projects in development. Lately I've been doing quite a bit of travel for Three Inches, where I chime in on set, much to the director's delight. I've also been doing quite a bit of travel for WWE Friday Night Smackdown.
When in LA, most days I come in, check my email while eating a breakfast of egg whites and avocado (I know Joe's Blog likes food talk). I'lll email out notes that I did the night before at home, and start prioritizing where the biggest fires are. I am on the phone constantly, talking to my producers, my coworkers in New York, Agents, writers, etc. At some point, I run down the hall to Business Affairs, and talk important legal things with very smart lawyers. For lunch, which is usually at my desk, I often go with a bunless veggie burger. I typically have several meetings during the day, whether that's meeting new writers, discussing fun things like Comic Con, or hearing pitches for potential new series. By the end of the day, I drag myself home, and read scripts or watch cuts and write up my notes on those scripts and cuts. I usually do so with a glass of red wine, my husband and my dogs. I go to sleep and it begins again.
"What do you look forward to the most in working with the Stargate staff?"
EK: Stargate is such an impressive franchise. I really admire that people have been inviting this world into their homes for so many years. The entire cast and crew feels like one giant family, which is lovely. I also really enjoy the challenging logic that Stargate utilizes so well. Gets a girl's brain going in the morning. And of course, talking to Joe.
"What type of shows is Syfy looking to develop, and how does SGA fit into that mandate? I love serialized shows like SGU, Caprica, BSG but I'm not a fan of the reality shows and campy monster flicks."
KE: Our motto here is "Imagine Greater", and the way we translate that into development is to find series that really stretch the limits of our imaginations – inviting us into new worlds, and introducing us to rich and fascinating characters. We look for shows that are entertaining, and while they may or may not hold a mirror to our current society, they contain worlds and adventures our audience can escape into.
SGA was before my time here, but it definitely was filled with adventure, escapism and fun characters.
We appreciate the diversity among our fans. Whenever I go to Comic Con I always marvel at how many variations of genre fans there are. Me, I'm a magial surrealism/ghost story/comedy genre kinda gal.
"Is Syfy looking to develop more fun fare like Warehouse 13, Eureka and Haven? I loved that Pearry Teo pushed for better production values on Witchville. Will we see Syfy's original movies move away from the camp and weird animal mashups?"
EK: We absolutely want to develop fun series that entertain our audiences and take them on a ride.
As for our movies, I'm not sure, but I will say that growing up I was a huge fan of Roger Corman and Troma Films, so for me it's nice to see that legacy live on. I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I dare you to watch the Sharktopus trailer without smiling once.
"Thanks for bringing us great shows like SGU!"
EK: You're very welcome. Thanks for watching them!
"Would you mind sharing some highs and lows of being at Syfy?"
EK: I adore working at Syfy for so many reasons, but the biggest reason is that Syfy truly values and celebrates the imagination. I've had some jobs (Purchasing Assistant at an Oil Company) that did not exactly push my creativity, and every day here I'm challenged to think outside of the box, and encourage others to do the same.
I can't say that I've had any real lows so far. I've been extremely lucky to (knock on wood) not have any series I work on be canceled. I know that day will come, and I would imagine that will become what I answer to this kind of question. I suppose the biggest low so far is that our cafeteria has limited vegetarian options.
"How long have you been a fan of Science Fiction and what got you into the genre?"
EK: I can't remember how long because as far back as I can remember my hair was in Princess Leia buns or I was pretending to be She-Ra. I wanted desperately to join the Ghostbusters, and kind of still do. Later I moved onto the hard stuff, R.L. Stine, Time Bandits, and I haven't looked back.
"What are you some of your favourite foods?"
EK: I'm a vegetarian, but as Joe can attest to, that doesn't stop me from eating. I love avocados and eat them with anything I can. I'm also a huge fan of spinach and sweet potatoes. On the bad for you front, I have a weakness for hors d'oeuvres and caramel. About once a week I have veggie sushi rolls, and whenever I'm in Vancouver I have to get a Veggie Terimayo Hot Dog from Jappadog. I recently went to Toronto, and discovered that the Four Seasons has an amazing Egg White Omelette, and that the restaurant George has incredible vegetarian options.
"Would you mind sharing some of your favourite authors?"
EK: My favorite book in the world is Love in the Time of Cholera, I could read it every day. I know it's kind of cliché, but Catcher in the Rye is a very close second. I love authors who pull you in, and make you feel like an accomplice (Kurt Vonnegut, Dorothy Parker, Oscar Wilde).
"Are you an animal lover? And what is your favourite animal?"
EK: I'm a vegetarian who has two recscued dogs (Harry and Faye, pic Below). As you can guess, I'm a sucker for dogs, but there really isn't an animal I don't like. Maybe bees and wasps. Yeah, I kinda hate those.
"Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe, which out the 3 is your favourite series and why?"
EK: Well, I definitely have a soft spot for SGU since I was with it from the beginning. My favorite SGU episodes are Time, Malice and Divided. My favorite SG1 eps are 200, Window of Opportunity and Grace , and my favorite SGA eps are Tabula Rasa, 38 Minutes, and Vegas.
"What direction do you see the Syfy channel heading in the future?"
EK: I think we'll stick with this name for a while. Personally, I'd love to see some comedies on the channel, and I wouldn't mind something a little spookier than we're used to either.
"Do you believe in the existance of Ghosts, as Syfy is big on the whole Ghost Hunters thing, what do you think of the 3 shows currently on your network?
EK: I do believe in ghosts. I was raised Cuban Catholic in New Orleans, so I'm not sure if it was possible for me not to. Ghost Hunters is one of our biggest series, and I definitely get the appeal. My favorite of the three is Ghost Hunters International because I can watch it and pretend I'm traveling.
"What happened with Legend of the Seeker?, if anything did happen, fans around the world have been mailing networks requesting this series be picked up by Syfy, as it averaged around 2.2 million viewers on ABC, why wasn't this picked up? Was the asking price by ABC/Disney too high? The show is currently im limbo with no one wanting to pick up, do you think you could make a miracle happen Erika? I think you'd have to agree itd be perfect for the Syfy channel."
EK: I am constantly impressed with the level of dedicated that LOTS fans have for the series. It's definitely an entertaining show, and I have to admit I kind of wish I was Cara. Honestly, I wasn't a part of the decision making process, but I can say from experience that sometimes not enough love in the world can save a show that needs a new network.
"When can we expect to start seeing promos for the new show on Syfy?"
EK: Do you mean SGU? I expect right after Comic Con. We have one amazing trailer that will premiere there. Ha, this answers shows how long ago I started answering these. Sorry.
"You still oversee the Writers on the Verge program, right? Do you just deal with the Finalists or do you have any say in who is picked (do you read the submissions)?"
EK: Sadly, I no longer oversee WOTV. Syfy let me finish out the cycle that was happening when I came over here, but after that they put a new person in my former position, the lovely Karen Horne. When I was there I read every single essay and resume, the first 5 pages of every script, and all of about 50% of the scripts.
"In the program, do you ever see college-aged finalists? People from all over the country?
EK: We take all kinds. Youngest Finalist had just graduated College. Several Finalists have come from out of state.
"Are you a dog or a cat person, or both?"
EK: Dogs rule, cats will be tolerated after copious amounts of allergy medication.
"What are your views on our 'non-acceptance' of the demise of SGA?"
EK: I respect that view. It took me a very long time to accept the demise of several series, Freaks and Geeks and Dead Like Me among others.
"What is your favourite part of the job?"
EK: I love so much of it, but I'd have to say my favorite part is working to make every episode the best they can be. I'm always ready to dig deeper and push further.
"Do you get to travel a lot?"
EK: Yes I do. I'm in Vancouver about once a month, NY every few months and I spent the last month in Toronto. Smackdown has expanded that travel to all parts of the country.
"Ohhh I just checked your twitter and see that you hail from New Orleans. That is one place I am definitely going to go, could you please recommend a couple of your favourite restaurants?"
EK: Fantasy New Orleans eating day: Breakfast at Commanders Palace, Lunch at the now non-existent Mystic Pizza, Dinner at Café Lebanon or Five Happiness, and drinks at the Columns. Then of course, late night Beignets from Café Du Monde.
"@Ms. Kennair – Can you please use your talents and influence to push for an Atlantis movie, and can you please push for Teyla and John becoming a couple in that movie?"
EK:: MGM is the one in charge of movies, but if it comes up, I can definitely see where Teyla is at these days.
"Is there any way, any way at all, to fund an SGA continuation as a Movie of the Week (you could put MegaBug Wraith in it!) or as a mini-series?"
EK: Sadly MegaBug/Wraith hybrids don't really test well. I would think a nice Sharktolucian or a Pirahnarreplicator may do better.
"How important is the Stargate franchise for Syfy channel?"
EK: The Stargate franchise is extremely important as it's our longest running franchise, and it is pure science fiction.
"Question for Erika: How old are you? You don't look very old in the picture Joe's been showing us. Also, just what does a Director of Development do?"
EK: I get that one quite a bit. I just turned 30. My mom got carded until she was in her 40s, so I've decided it's a good thing. Thanks.
And this just in! Check out this outtake from SGU's "Awakening".
Tagged: Erika Kennair, SGU, Stargate, Stargate Universe, SyFy
October 28, 2010
October 28, 2010: Refuel's Annual Whole Hog Dinner!
Well, last night was Refuel's annual Whole Hog Dinner. There were three seatings offered: 6:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. In preparation for my senior years, I opted for the early bird special, arriving maybe five minutes before the scheduled seating. As I neared the restaurant, I noticed a group of people milling about outside. Assuming they were anti-foie gras protestors, I prepared to launch a verbal barrage their way. I don't know what made me hesitate, but it's a good thing I did because it turned out they weren't protestors but diners waiting for the restaurant to open its doors.
Finally, the door was opened and we were welcomed inside. Unlike the previous Whole Hog Dinners I attended, this one was family style. We were seated at one of three long banquet tables along with some forty other strangers, and the festivities commenced…
Chef Belcham carving the lomo (at least I think it's the lomo) for the charcuterie platter.
Chef Ted prepares to dish it out.
Snack: The Cure's Charcuterie - lomo, dry cured chorizo, fennel pollen salami, and saucisson sec. The prosciutto was favorite.
Drink: I'm not a big beer guy but R&B Brewing created three special brews for the evening - lemongrass sungold ale, oaked raven cream ale, and bacon stout - so I decided to partake in the latter. It was their first time making the bacon stout and it turned out quite nice. Not distinctly bacony in flavor but pleasantly smokey in finish.
First: Aromatic Pork Shoulder with iceberg lettuce, fresh chili, and pickles. Loved the pork shoulder. It could have been a meal in itself. We were served lettuce and encouraged to make wraps. Unfortunately, the leaves were too small and the results were messy. Messy but delicious.
Second: Boudin Noir Pie with white chanterelles, caramelized onions, and cream. That's blood sausage in case you need to brush up on your French.
A great dish, but this was the first hiccup of the family-style service. The previous two courses went well as we were served one platter to be shared between four people. Those who wanted more could eat more while those who wanted to save their appetites could opt for smaller portions. But when the boudin noir arrived, we were informed there were six portions, one for each diner (meaning the four diners to my left, myself, and the gentleman sitting across from me while his wife and my date would have to fend for themselves). Another two platters were served to the other side of the table. Normally, I would have offered the platter to the ladies but, since they were seated to my right, they were technically on the opposite side of the dividing line which meant that serving them the boudin noir would deny the foursome on my left their portions. The platters to our right never found their way over so we all sat there awkwardly and made idle chitchat until one of the foursome on my left finally made the move and helped themselves. In the end, the ladies elected not to go for the boudin noir so the six portions for the eight diners worked out fine, but given the singular nature of the servings, I didn't understand why this course wasn't served individually.
Then, it was time for the big show. The confit pigs' heads were trotted out for display purposes. They were given a place of honor at the front of the room so that guests could take advantage of the photo op.
Kissably crispy!
Pig ear, brain, and eggplant salad served with salsa verde. When I described this dish to Lawren, his reaction was: "Ugh! Eggplant!". This dish was the highlight of the night, a wonderful taste and textural contrast. Without a doubt the best preparation of brain I've enjoyed to date.
Alas, my pic of the actual crispy-skinned pork served with roesti potato and sauteed savoy cabbage came out to blurry. I only had the briefest of opportunities to snap a pic before the platter was whisked away. By the time it came back, everyone had helped themselves to the pork cheek so I had to settle for neck and snout. Listen, pork neck and snout are great – but they're no cheek.
Sweet: Apple and Bacon Tarte Tatin with cracklin an vanilla ice cream. Great tarte. Great ice cream. Cracklin - not so great. I would have preferred the pieces to be crisper and tinier. I found them a bit too chewy.
So, overall, some truly wonderful dishes. But I can't even begin to tell you how much I really, REALLY, REALLLY HATED the family style dining. I'm sure it works well – if you actually happen to be dining with family, maybe even friends – but it's all sorts of awkwardness when dining with strangers. Especially strangers who think nothing of helping themselves to all of the pork cheek.
The uber-lovely Meagan.
Chef Ted and Chef Rob bid us a fond adieu as they prepare for the next sitting…
Akemi and Tom flashback to their days in Japan.
Tagged: ReFuel
October 27, 2010
October 27, 2010: Alan McCullough! Going Whole Hog! That comic book project starts taking shape!
Hey, look who it is!
It's former Stargate writer/producer Alan McCullough, fresh from his modeling tour of Milan!
No, no. Just kidding. The modeling tour will have to wait until next year. Alan has his hands full on Sanctuary where he has just finished scripting this season's big season finale. With only a week to go before he packs up his tent and heads back east, he suggested we get together for one last Vancouver meal before he hits the road. I told him he could select the restaurant. He chose Refuel -
I had the chanterelle mushroom soup to start. He went with the beetroot salad. Note - it got a thumbs up.
His main - Pork tenderloin with sungold tomatoes, chanterelle mushrooms, and parsley sauce. Great. Loved the mushrooms!
My main - scallops with butternut squash ravioli, brown butter, and lemon.
And a little something extra…
A little sneak taste at tonight's Whole Hog Dinner.
Which I had completely forgotten about! For those of you not-in-the-know, the Whole Hog Dinner is…well…my buddy Andrew Morrison explains it best:
"If you've never heard of a Vancouver restaurant taking in a whole animal to create a menu that is the sum of its parts, I can assure you it does happen, if only rarely. The only local establishment I know of that does this is Kitsilano's Refuel, which hosts a "Whole Hog" dinner in late fall, where every part of the pig is plated, from stuffed trotter and smoked-lard ravioli with fried brain, to slow-roasted shoulder and bacon ice cream (watch for a Fresh Sheet update on this in November)."
(http://www.westender.com/articles/entry/is-vancouver-ready-to-go-nose-to-tail)
Mmmm. Smoked-lard ravioli with fried brain. It reminds me of last Sunday's episode of The Amazing Race in which two of the contestants are challenged to eat a roasted sheep's head. As I watched them struggle, washing down each mouthful with a gulp of water, I couldn't help but imagine the short work Marty G. and I would have made of the challenge. Hell, we probably would've asked for seconds.
Anyway, full report tonight. I hope they do the crispy ear with the salsa verde.
This weekend, I started work on that comic book project, carefully translating the pilot script to comic script format. It's been a bit of a challenge so far, but I've got fourteen pages done with another eight to go. The first issue will cover the tease and first two acts, the second issue acts three, four, and five culminating in the BIG REVEAL. Issues three and four will conclude the opening story arc (and form the second part of the two hour premiere. Unless, of course, we end up going the feature route which has been suggested – although I think it would work infinitely better as an ongoing series). The pacing has been a bit of a challenge, trying to line up those next page reveals and keeping the panel per page count manageable. I'd like to script both issues #1 and #2 before sending them to my editor – hopefully in a couple of weeks. At which point, I'm sure he'll have a list of artists he is considering for the project.
A couple of other intriguing projects found their way to my inbox this weekend – one courtesy of an actor Paul and I worked with years ago, another created by a writer I greatly admire. Will be dusting off the reading glasses Friday night.
In the latest MindMeld entry, SFSignal's John Denardo asks: Which anime titles are underrated and deserve more attention?
My response: http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2010/10/mind-meld-underrated-anime-with-videos/index.html
October 26, 2010
October 26, 2010: Cloverdale, SGU episode 215, tonight at 9:00 p.m. on SyFy!
Paul finished up his pass on Gauntlet over the weekend and, today, heads prep on episode 20. Boy, that last scene… Dare I say it? Not a dry eye in the house!
Hey, guess who dropped by the office today!
Go ahead. Guess.
Nope. Guess again.
Nope. One more guess!
No! Come on, people!
Dropping by the office today was none other than…
Contest winner Jason and his wife Grace!
They traveled all the way from Singapore (where they watch Stargate: Universe on SyFy Asia) to come see me. And, also, visit the set.
Two more contest winners headed our way, one from Montreal tomorrow (I get to practice my French) and one from Calgary on Friday (I'll get to show off my rodeo skills by roping and throwing one of the office PA's!).
I also received a few belated birthday somethings in the mail today. From blog regular Luvnjack this awesome t-shirt -
Even Ashleigh, the show's vegetarian mascot, admitted it was a pretty great shirt.
And these super cufflinks from Ireland's own Shirt 'n Tie -
Many thanks!
Today's entry is dedicated to the memory of Paul the Octopus: http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Paul-the-oracle-octopus-dies-may-get-permanent-?urn=sow-279968
You brought us joy with your picks clairvoyant.
So sorry to hear you're no longer bouyant.
January 2008 – 26 October 2010
Now go watch our show!
October 25, 2010
October 25, 2010: My recent haul! Notable links! The mailbag!
Today was a production holiday, so I took advantage of the extra day off to work on my quarterly tax installments. Yes, sir, nothing says holiday like sitting hunched over a calculator for four hours, crunching numbers and assiduously documenting the results for future reward (a.k.a. the installment payment I'll be making this weekend).
On the bright side, I did manage to get out of the house, do a little grocery shopping, and pick up a few things. My haul pictured above. I've heard great things about the Spanish language time travel film Time Crimes (Los Cronocrimenes) so I decided to pick it up. Check out the creepy trailer -
Apparently, there's an English language remake already in the works for those illiterate move-goer incapable of reading subtitles.
I also picked up a movie I saw the trailer for last year when I was in Tokyo that has finally made its way to dvd. The intriguingly named Assault Girls -
Girls, big guns, and cheezy-looking monsters. How can this NOT be good?
Also picked up the anime version of the movie Casshern which I picked up in Tokyo two years ago but have yet to watch because its coded for Asia.
On the book front – some graphic novels! The Mark Waid-penned Irredeemable and one of my fave DC titles, The Secret Six, scripted by the wonderful Gail Simone.
They'll have to wait of course as I am presently reading Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes and China Mieville's City and the City.
On the t.v. front – Top Chef, F Word, The Office, 30 Rock, Survivor, and The Amazing Race. And…that's about it. I have a slew of House and Detroit 1-8-7 recorded that I don't know if I'll ever get around to given my schedule of late.
I did a little podcast with the gang at SFSignal the other day. That dog you hear barking throughout is Jelly, angrily reminding me that my little interview is cutting into her dinner time: http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2010/10/the-sf-signal-podcast-episode-013-interview-with-joseph-mallozzi-the-best-genre-shows-on-the-air/#comments
Hey, blog (somewhat) regular Kellie has produced a short film. Check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtL8Bm4eTAw
Looks like my Snow Monkeys are about to go down again tonight, bringing their record to a lowly 2-5. Can I just say that I'm very VERY disappointed in both the Saints offense and Marshawn Lynch.
Mailbag:
Sylvia writes: "Opps, meant to ask the name of the Korean restaurant please."
Answer: Apgujung on Robson. When they say "It's spicy!" believe them!
Michael writes: "1) The show is primarily from the Icarus Base crew's POV but will we see a POV from any of the aliens or see their homeworld(s)?"
Answers: At present, no such stories planned.
"2) Are we going to see more stand alone gate missions soon? With the run of the latest episodes, it felt like the Stargate was left out a lot aside from the the premiere and "Aftermath".
Answer: Off-world hijinks abound in the next episode, Cloverdale.
"3) How many Lucians are on Destiny. It looks like 7-9 but I can never tell since some are red shirts/leather heads."
Answer: About a dozen. Give or take.
Paloosa writes: "How many more weeks of filming do you have left? How long after will you still have to be working? Do you know when the second half of Season 2 will air? And this has been bugging me – did Telford have a gun when he was left alone with the aliens?"
Answer: We wrap production on season two in about a month. After that, there'll be several months of post-production work (edits, mixes, visual effect approvals, etc.). No idea when the second half of the season will air. That's a question for SyFy. And, yes, Telford did have a gun with him on the seeder ship. You could actually see it in a couple of the search beats.
E writes: "Are the TJ flashbacks from "The Hunt" already gone?"
Answer: Nope. About five more minutes of footage have to be shot for The Hunt. Once those have been assembled, I'll edit them and then decide what I'm going to have to lose to ensure the episode is to time.
Simon writes: "1) You mentioned in the last mailbag that Brad and Rob may have something for a 4th Stargate series in case SGU doesn't come back (which I hope it does come back!). Can you further inquire Brad or Rob about this?"
Answer: Uh, you're reading way too much into what I said. I said I had no idea if Brad and Rob had any notions for future Stargate projects. I think it's highly unlikely.
"2) How many episodes is Mike Duopd contracted for?"
Answer: Oh, like all guest stars Mike is only contracted when we need him – a.k.a. When Varro appears in an episode. Provided he hasn't been killed off.
"3) Will we see a Varro centered episode? Loving this character"
Answer: No Varro-centered episode planned. Sorry. But his story will get very interesting…
Thornyrose writes: "Do you get more or fewer dining companions with Ivon in tow? Will you two double your number of afficiandos, or will you be mistaken for a couple?"
Answer: Hmm, I wondered about the couple thing. And, I don't know whether I'll have more or fewer dining companions with Ivon in tow. To be honest, I'm thinking fewer. 
JonmusE writes: "Just rewatched Awakening (love On Demand!) Did I detect a few bars of the Sg-1 theme during the gate factory scene?"
Answer: In fact, you did. Nice catch.
Anais a ecrit: "Si la saison 2 était la dernière de sgu, seriez vous encore prés à travail sur d'autres projets de la franchise stargate? Hormis ça, quelle serait vos autres projets?"
Reponse: Non, quant SGU sera finit, j'aimerai concentrer sur mes propres projects.
Translation: No plans to work on future Stargate projects if and when SGU ends. I'd like to focus on some personal projects I've had percolating for quite some time.
maggiemayday writes: "So you never venture far from Tokyo proper? No Daibutsu at Kamakura? No Nikko? Those are day trips. I understand why not Miyajima, and Fuji is a summer thing after all. Not even a trip up to Hakone for the osen? I guess temples and shrines are more my thing than *gasp* food. Although the food in Japan is indeed, trip-worthy in itself."
Answer: Ivon expressed an interest in doing some temples and a day trip from Tokyo isn't out of the question. This trip will be a lot looser than the lost one where I'd booked every lunch and dinner well in advance.
dasNdanger writes: "Considering all the odd things you consume, if worse ever comes to worse do you think you could possibly eat another human being?"
Answer: Cooked or not?
hvn writes: "One question: can we expect another stargate centered episode like e.g. Lost ?"
Answer: The stargates will become a BIG issue in the back half of this season.
Rex Carter writes: "1) Does Atlantis have its own set of Earth made Ancient communication stones issued to them in the event they need them if they should leave Earth maybe?"
Answer: Given Atlantis's present location – no.
"2) When Woolsey and McKay appear on SGU will we see a bit of Atlantis as they leave to go to the Pentagon maybe a shot of Atlantis floting in Sf Bay?"
Answer: Nope, sorry. No flashes of Atlantis.
"3) Is Atlantis parked at the Treasure Island Naval Base or next to it now? i was thinking they are also so they can tap into the usa power grid if needed."
Answer: Atlantis is parked in an out of the way place, somewhere the average citizen wouldn't be likely to stumble over (or into) it.
"4) Is Rodney going to mention zpm power in any capacity while visiting Destiny?"
Answer: Nope.
"5) I think Destiny should be sent a puddle jumper to replace the lost shuttles if a power source can be found just for that and have it loaded with some basic supplies or at least takeout pizza for the Destiny crew?"
Answer: Yes, ideally a supply line from Earth would be much appreciated. And will be a point of discussion later this season.
"6) Why is General Oneill wearing the black Icarus type uniform at the Pentagon or is the black uniform the new uniform for the sg teams as well also for Atlantis?"
Answer: Question for the costume department, but I believe it's because that is the uniform of Homeworld Command.
"7) I loved seeing the Atlantis,Daedalus,SGC and other patches in Jacks office at the Pentagon had to zoom in to see them on the wall nice touch."
Answer: Thanks.
"
I want to thank you for gating Telford to the Destiny very pleased to see him on board as himself in person at last hope he can come back to Destiny or with the Seeder ship later."
Answer: I hope so too. I'm a big fan of Lou Diamond Phillips.
"9) Can Dr.Rush now that hes learning to control the ship fly Destiny to meet up with the working Seeder ships and dock with them to power the Stargate to at least send anyone back to Earth that wants to go?"
Answer: Theoretically, he probably could use the power from the seeder ships to dial Earth, but realistically there is no way he'd be able to catch up with them. They are WELL ahead of Destiny. It's the same answer I give those who ask: "Now that Rush has control of the ship, couldn't he just turn Destiny around and fly it back to Earth?" Again, theoretically, yes. If they flew non-stop in FTL without stopping for food or water, they could probably make it back in approximately 50 000 years.
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