March 4, 2015: Introducing Director Ron Murphy! Jay and I duke it out!

The Murph (aka Director Ron Murphy, aka Ronald Murphawski, aka Ronaldine Murphkowtiz-Kardashian III, aka The Earl of Leftwich) is off to a strong start. ��Day #1 of episode #106 is in the books and already I’m hearing words like “great”, “dynamic” and “callypigian”! ��Also phrases like “great energy” and��“killing it!” (which, as it turns out, referred to that big rat they discovered in the props locker. ��But still.).

Pictured above, Ron flanked by Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok and VFX Supervisor ��Lawren Bancroft-Wilson. ��I look forward to comparing this cheery, uber-positive BEFORE production pic with the inevitable weary, rage-fueled AFTER pic.

Ron and Script Supervisor Matti Huhta manning the monitors.

Ron directing the scene.

Ron directing the actors.

Ron directing the actors.

Ron directing me to take this picture for my blog.

I spent the early morning on main unit with Ron, Ivon, Lawren, Matti and the gang, then headed over to the production offices where I engaged Executive Producer Jay Firestone in a heated debate on a scene from the episode #103 edit, drove over to post where I finished my producer’s edit of episode #104, drove back to the production offices for the episode #107 concept meeting, resumed my heated debate with Jay on that scene from the episode #103 edit, headed downstairs to watch John Stead direct second unit, then headed back upstairs to continue my heated debate with Jay.

In a nutshell, it all came down to a single shot from the tease. ��I though it was funnier one way; he preferred it another way. ��I suppose if I’d been dealing with any other producer, I’d have probably been thrown out of his office. ��But instead, Jay elected to go with the democratic approach. ��He went on a tour of production offices, screening the two versions for a half dozen people, and letting the audience decide.

The majority chose his version so, in the end, it was tough to critique his take. ��On the other hand, it WAS easy to criticize my co-workers’ heinous tastes.

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.