Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 74
October 2, 2023
October 2, 2023: Better late than never when it comes to blog entries!
31 shows into my Crime Binge and I really loved three: River, Mr. Inbetween, and Love/Hate (just finished season 2 and really looking forward to season 3!). I liked 7 other shows (enough to continue watching). So I enjoyed a third of everyone’s recommendations. So far.
Still making the final adjustments to our NYC and L.A. trips. Looking to fill one lunch and dinner spot in the former, and one lunch spot with the latter. Think we’ll just pick up Sharky on the Day 2 and then take-out food so we can spend the evening with him at the hotel. Hope he’s a good flyer!
Meanwhile on the home front….
Ho Ho Hum https://t.co/QuGgwaCXmo
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) October 2, 2023
Today’s Yes/No..
Starfield Chunks menu? Yes/No https://t.co/lIviFGFw5F
— Joseph Mallozzi
But yesterday’s Yes/No was even better…
Cheesesteak Martini? Yes/No
Thanks to @aboleyn for the tip.https://t.co/jpJTJ2LuAs via @phillyinquirer
— Joseph Mallozzi
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October 1, 2023
October 1, 2023: Doggy videos!
One of our earliest videos of Suji, shortly after we adopted her…
Lulu snoozing…
Check out those bouncy ears…
Jelly eating peanut butter…
Bubba eating peanut butter…
Handsome Maximus…
The post October 1, 2023: Doggy videos! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 30, 2023
September 30, 2023: News of Note!
Saturday, October 14th – 12PM PST/3PM EST…
I’ll be fielding questions on Jeff Howard’s (Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Gerald’s Game, The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass) youtube channel. Come armed with your Dark Matter/Stargate/Screenwriting/Sci-Fi/Food/Pugs-related questions!
Any movie described as "It will make you stand up and cheer!" is a movie I'll be avoiding at all costs.
— Joseph Mallozzi
26 crime shows under my belt. Loved 2. Liked 6. To be continued…
How about instead of making fewer shows, we just make fewer of those pricey overwrought shows nobody watches anyway?
"That will likely mean that companies will make fewer new shows and cancel even more that are on the bubble." https://t.co/rEcXoZ1vWG via @WSJ
— Joseph Mallozzi
Two more development opportunities have come my way. All interesting projects, but I won’t have the time to commit to all – especially if one of my originals finally goes. It’s all a crap shoot of course, but one project is seeing some significant progress, interest from a potential lead, pilot director, and buyer. Stay tuned!
Help me build my horror movie soundtrack.
What's your favorite disco song?
— Joseph Mallozzi
Today’s Yes/No…
Chocolate Moussed Latte? Yes/No
We get a taste of Starbucks Japan’s new coffees and sweets, including one that’s here to stay https://t.co/rANgxY6XtL via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
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September 29, 2023
September 29, 2023: This and That!
I’m thinking about doing a twitter (X) Spaces next Saturday (afternoon?) where I’ll field question about Stargate, Dark Matter, screenwriting, and pugs. Have never used it before, have no idea how it works – so that should make it all the more fun. Will keep you updated!
Things I Hate:
Truffle oil
Liquid smoke
Meetings
Result writing
Foodie influencers who "cheers" with their food
Politicians
People who fawn over politicians on twitter
People who use "addicting" over "addictive"
Currants or raisins in my chocolate
The latest thing
— Joseph Mallozzi
I hear they're also working on a Stranger Things reboot. https://t.co/OhMKp0LTlZ
— Joseph Mallozzi
We’ve locked down NYC, more or less. Here’s hoping the flooding abates before our arrival. Shortly after our return, we’ll be traveling to L.A. for a couple of days to visit Pug Nation of Los Angeles. The plan was to wait for the new year to adopt a new (old) pug, but I hate the thought of that future adoptee (or two) languishing those extra few months. No new addition to the family will ever replace Suji, but here’s hoping that opening our home will be a fitting tribute to our dearly departed girl, and offer a wonderful second life to some needy pug. Or juggle.
The post September 29, 2023: This and That! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 28, 2023
September 28, 2023: The Crime Binge continues!
Dear Child (2023)
A mysterious woman’s escape from her harrowing captivity points investigators toward the dark truth behind an unsolved disappearance 13 years earlier.
My thoughts: Sets up an intriguing premise but fails in its execution. This one demands too much of a suspension of disbelief for this viewer.
2.5/5
Lupin (2021 – ) Season 1
Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family.
My thoughts: Sure it’s fun, but as another reviewer has effectively pointed out, it’s not that Lupin is so brilliant as it is everyone else around him is so dumb. And that makes for less than satisfying viewing.
3.5/5
Guilt (2019-2023)
Second season Really enjoyed season 1, but season 2 was not for me. Disgraced lawyer Max McCall is released from prison into a world where nothing is what it seems and everyone has a hidden agenda.
My thoughts: Lacks the elegant simplicity of its first season. Too convoluted.
3/5
Mr. Inbetween (2018-2021) Season 2
Ray Shoesmith is a father, ex-husband, boyfriend, brother and best friend, tough roles to juggle in the modern age. Especially when you’re also a criminal for hire.
My thoughts: I had some issues with the season 1 finale, but season 2 is fantastic, darkly humorous and poignant.
4.5/5
The Devil’s Hour (2022)
A woman who wakes up every night at exactly 3.33AM, in the middle of the so-called devil’s hour between 3AM and 4AM.
My thoughts: Great set-up and an ultimately satisfying conclusion, but the road in-between is long and ponderous.
3/5
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September 27, 2023
September 27, 2023: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Avengers #5 – cover art by Alex Ross
The Invincible Iron Man #10 – cover art by Bob Layton
Batman: The Brace And the Bold #5 – cover art by Ben Oliver
Power Girl #1 – cover art by Gary Frank
The Flash #1 – cover art by Mike Deodato Jr.
Red Sonja #3 – cover art by Joshua Middleton
Red Sonja #3 – cover art by Lucio Parrillo
Alice Never After #3 – cover art by Justine Florentino
Seven Years in Darkness #4 – cover art by Joseph Schmalke
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post September 27, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 26, 2023
The Dreaded Script Notes!
In a notes session, “starting with the positives” is the animal wrangling equivalent of approaching slowly and speaking in a calm, soothing voice. It’s designed to relax the intended victim, lull them into a false sense of security.
Then, the second they let their guard down, they’re ensnared, bagged, and shipped off to some zoo where they’ll spend the rest of their lives waiting for the man with the yellow hat to bring more bananas and wondering how it all went wrong. Or working on a script rewrite.
Like most defenseless animals, writers are easily spooked and one whiff of danger is enough to send them scurrying for the safety of the high branches, or the bathroom, so that positive opening is de rigueur. “Hey, the script was a lot of fun. I just have a few thoughts”, “A terrific first effort! Great dialogue. Now, if you could just make a few adjustments…” Or “Nicely formatted. Your grammar is beyond reproach. As for the rest of it – well, you may want to cancel that weekend trip.”.
Starting with the positives can only mean one of two things: 1) They generally liked the script or 2) They generally hated it. Those initial positives tell you nothing. It’s the negatives that will give you a real sense of what they really thought of your script.
For instance, if their notes are few and/or capable of being easily incorporated into the next draft, then chances are they generally liked the script. If, on the other hand, your notes session…
a) at any time finds you raising your voice in defense to the point where you sound like classic SNL’s Mr. Bill…
b) runs roughly as long as it took you to write the script in the first place, and/or….
c) includes the phrase “What were you thinking?”, then chances are they didn’t love the script and you’re going to have your work cut out for you.
My advice for taking notes is to not lose your shit. Remain calm. And polite. Be receptive to their input. Ask for clarification if need be. But do NOT commit to anything!
Then ask them to forward you their notes so that you can review and obsess over them in private. Take the time to thoughtfully consider their input, come up with a game plan, and then respond with what I like to call Notes on Notes, again, requesting clarity when necessary, offering suggestions for how to best address their concerns, offering reasoned pushback on some points, and perhaps inquiring if they were joking or high when they gave THAT particular note.
Occasionally, you will come across a note so alarming, so batshit crazy or narratively destructive that it may reduce you to tears or trigger an expletive-laden outburst that will have your neighbors steering their children indoors.
In those instances, I urge you to look for “the spirit of the note”. What is their issue with the script that prompted this wild suggestion? Identify it and find a way to address it that won’t require you to disassemble the current draft.
Finally, remind yourself that notes are delivered out of a desire to make your script even better. And, occasionally, that will only happen if the end of your second act becomes the end of your tease.
The post The Dreaded Script Notes! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 25, 2023
September 25, 2023: Moving Forward!
Again, thanks to everyone who left a message about Suji. For a little girl, she had such a big, demanding personality that every facet of my daily routine was impacted by her presence – and now by her absence. Another dog will never replace Suji but seeing all those seniors and special needs pugs languishing and in need of a good home makes me believe we’ll be adopting sooner than later. Perhaps much sooner.
With the seeming resolution to the WGA strike, I’m hoping the various projects I have on the go start seeing traction. There is apparent interest on the part of a South Korean production company for my SciFi-Kpop series (Seoul!), while two potential homes have expressed interest in my globe-trotting (Greece!) action adventure series (We’ll be looking to chat with an actor we’re hoping to attach to the project maybe next week). And, finally, my cozy mystery pilot (U.K.!) will go out. The producer how optioned it is very excited – and I, in turn, am very excited at the prospect of doing a very different show. Meanwhile, looks like financing for that horror movie is looking very good (Bulgaria!). Hope to have a cash-flow schedule by next week. Tomorrow, we’re on a zoom with a possible Music Supervisor and, then week after, we should be talking to an entertainment lawyer about setting up our own prod. co. Also have a couple of zooms this week regarding some outside projects, pilots/shows in need of some development (and a showrunner) before gong out to the market, one with a very cool horror angle, the other that would shoot in Portugal. I feel like there are one or two other projects I’m forgetting, but I’m sure they’ll come to me. After I hit PUBLISH on this entry.
Looking forward to our short NYC get-away. We’ve booked a couple of tables, noted maybe too many dessert stops, but THIS is the one Akemi is most looking forward to –
For Akemi, it’s all about the fish and carbs.
Todays’ Yes/No…
Pumpkin Shaved Ice? Yes/No pic.twitter.com/j5qhpxsdYI
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post September 25, 2023: Moving Forward! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 24, 2023
September 24, 2023: A Final Suji Sunday!
Our last few days with Suji…
The post September 24, 2023: A Final Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 23, 2023
September 23, 2023: Unusual Deaths!
#UnusualDeaths
Parasites found in the feces of Assassins Bugs cause a condition known as Chagas Disease that, if left untreated, can lead to heart, digestive issues, and death. Assassin Bugs claim the lives of 10 000 people a year. pic.twitter.com/B2uDbQFfB7
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
Autoerotic Asphyxiation claims the lives of 600 people a year – although that number could be considerably higher given the likelihood that surviving loved ones may be reluctant to reveal the true cause of death. pic.twitter.com/jcZ5O1ssJ2
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
40 people a year are killed in shark attacks making YOUR odds of being killed by a shark roughly 300,000,000/1. pic.twitter.com/pFS1UAt9aV
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
Most cowboys didn't carry six-guns because they were gunslingers. They carried them in the event their boot got stuck in their stirrup and they had to shoot their horse to avoid being dragged to death. pic.twitter.com/JnR5LF0y7P
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
2500 left-handed people a year die using products designed for right-handed people. They also die, on average, three days earlier than right-handed people. pic.twitter.com/a0hzDmXSYk
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
You have a 1 in 685,000 chance of drowning in your bathtub.
Stick to showers! pic.twitter.com/OkX1atDERz
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
The holiday shopping event known as Black Friday has seen 117 injuries and 12 deaths over its pushy, crowded, stampedey history. pic.twitter.com/nDky1zVpWr
— Joseph Mallozzi
Today’s Yes/No…
Stuffed Roast Potatoes in a Sea of Melty Cheese? Yes/No https://t.co/YAz6HMiSy5
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post September 23, 2023: Unusual Deaths! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
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