March 5, 2015: Farmhouse scouting in the deep freeze!

While newly minted Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok was staying cosy on our nice warm sets, I was trekking to the frosty hinterlands of Hamilton to scout farmhouse locations for our upcoming episodes. ��Given the fact that I’d be braving the wilderness, I dressed in what I thought was appropriate fashion – jeans, sweater, winter boots and coat – so that I could be prepared for any and all eventualities (ie.��wolves, renegade steers, crazed locals, etc.). ��Unfortunately, I clearly didn’t think things through properly and it was only when I disembarked from the van into the chilly -12 air that I realized I’d forgotten my hat. ��And warm gloves.

As a result, I tried to hurry things along – especially when it became apparent that none of the farmhouses we’d been scheduled to visit were heated. ��“This one’s great!”I enthused as we walked into the first farmhouse. ��“Perfect!”

“Let’s check out another one,”suggested line producer Norman Denver who, coincidentally, had remembered to bring HIS hat and warm gloves.

“Fantastic!”I said as we entered the second farmhouse, my fingers already numb from cold. ��“I love this!”

And I was equally enthusiastic about the next one. ��And the one after that.

Finally, we were done. ��I was relieved. ��I could almost feel my ears defrosting. �� It was time to go!

Go check out the forest that is!

Hey, what interesting hanging cauldrons. ��I’ll just walk over here and take a picture – and warm my hands in the steam coming off them.

Director Bruce McDonald, in his signature cowboy hat, surveys the scene while production designer Ian Brock snaps away.

Wow. ��Creepy children’s toys sure have come a long way!

After trekking through the forest, we headed back toward the van. ��“Thanks so much,”I said to the woman who’d been showing us around.

“Oh, we’re not done yet,”she informed me. ��“We still have to see the field.”

Just because we were heading back in the direction of the van didn’t mean we were actually going back. ��Instead, we climbed over a snowbank and checked out the field. ��“What do you think?”asked director Bruce McDonald. ��“We could find her here with maybe some mountains and a twin sun in the sky.”

“Sure!”I said. ��“Sounds great!” ��At that point, I would’ve agreed to anything. ��“Flying robot monkeys? ��Absolutely!”

We returned to the van (I was the first one inside) and got back to the production offices in time for lunch – and a two hour stunts, SFX, VFX, and Playback meeting. What? ��We couldn’t squeeze in hair, make-up, props, and costumes?

On set, Cat t-shirt Thursday was in full swing. ��Check out Andy from Electric -

Oh, and amid all the Cat t-shirt Thursday celebrations, the cast and crew also worked on Day #2 of episode #107. ��Director Ron Murphy completed 10 pages today!

Tomorrow, he’ll attempt to break that record!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v.