February 18, 2014: Project updates! Our Stargate: Atlantis rewatch continues with…oops!

This morning, I took part in my very first Skype conference.  It was not without its problems.  For some reason, my writing partner’s webcam wasn’t working properly and, as a result, he appeared as a faceless avatar for the call’s duration.  It was a little unsettling, like I was chatting with that Anonymous guy.  Everyone else’s webcams worked just fine – until about halfway through the call when I lost their video feeds and all the nodding, inquisitive faces were replaced by unnervingly silent, stoic avatars.  At one point, I yammered on for so long that I had to stop and ask if they were still there.  Thankfully, they were.  My writing partner’s audio, meanwhile, kept dropping out at the most inopportune moments.  I swear to you, in one instant he actually said: “But the most important thing is…brzzzgrdsdjktosvbxfzzlslasrzzbreekdtlbrzzz… Anyway…”.

Sure, it was frustrating at times but, at the end of the day, preferable to the alternative:

[P.S. - That guy with the dog?  That's me.]

Anyway, it’s a terrific project and I’m hoping today’s call put us through to the semi-finals.   Technical issues aside, it went very well.  Or at least, I assume it did since I couldn’t gauge any reactions.  I also assume the video feed cutting out was an accident.  Hmmmm.

Received some preliminary notes on my Southern Gothic pilot from southerner Jeff and will await another set of notes before proceeding to the final polish.  After that, it’s off to my agent and smooooooth sailing!

And, for those of you asking (well, one of you anyway) about our A.K.A. project that was announced as “in development” (here: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1290069/bell-media-announces-29-drama-projects-in-development) – we delivered a series overview, polish of the pilot, and a revised draft of the second episode script a couple of couple of weeks ago and now await the good news.

Or what I assume will be good news.  In March.

Who’s in a celebrating mood?

Our Stargate: Atlantis rewatch continues with…well, we’re supposed to be watching Before I Sleep but we accidentally skipped and watched The Brotherhood instead.  Sorry about that.

Well, damn.  I quite enjoyed this episode on second viewing.  Plenty of suspense, clever puzzles, McKay almost gets the girl for a change, and Kolya at his dashingly diabolical best.

Akemi liked it well enough as well and – in what’s become a running pattern – expressed great admiration for Mckay’s smarts.  And Beckett’s eyes.

In addition…

When the two monks rush outside and get nabbed by the wraith: “Why go outside?  So stupid!”  True.

She was very defensive of her boy McKay when Jana seemed to lose interest in him after finding out he was originally from Earth: “Why she didn’t like McKay after finding out he’s not from Atlantis?  Prejudice!”

Akemi also demonstrated an unnerving bloodthirsty streak in her reaction to Sheppard’s decision NOT to kill Kolya: “I didn’t like the fact Sheppard didn’t kill the bad guy.  He caused so much trouble.”  I pointed out that Sheppard is a good guy, a good guys don’t shoot unarmed people in cold blood.  But she wasn’t buying it and proceeded to offer up a reference to the cartoon series Anpanman to bolster her argument: “Baikinman steal the bento box from hippopolice and Anpanman so angry he punched him and Baikinman went very far and crash into mountain.”  And then, in summary: “So if you do something bad thing then you have to do revenge.”

P.S. Akemi wants me to let you know that her comments may give the wrong impression of Anpanman.  It is, in fact, a very peaceful show.

Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular (and budding young artist) Bethany Boo and her grandma.  Get well soon!

Bethany in action

Tagged: Stargate, Stargate Atlantis Rewatch, Stargate: Atlantis