The girl with the glasses snapped her cellphone shut and excitedly informed the room: “She’s on her way!” The birthday girl was enroute! “Lily is going to be so surprised,”Glasses assured us.
“Doubt it,”I murmured, checking the battery life on my camera.
She threw me a look. “Why not?”
“Well, for starters there’re all the balloons and streamers decorating the room. Then there’s that Happy Birthday banner hanging over there.” Oh, and there was also the fact that the building’s glass-walled party room was a giant fishbowl allowing anyone at street level a clear view of the milling revelers.
“Somebody help me with the balloons!”came the panicked cry.
“You might also want to hide the artichoke dip,”I suggested. “That’s always a dead giveaway.”
“Somebody help me move the dip!”
I grabbed a bowl and the guests were ushered around the corner and into the media room where a dozen individuals were already gathered, watching Jim Carrey deliver a remarkably restrained and nuanced performance as The Riddler. “You better go back for the olive platter,”I warned another girl. “Normally, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but that one’s a party mix.” Uncertain as to whether I was kidding or not, she hesitated and then, perhaps not wanting to chance it, hurried back to retrieve the platter.
“Okay, I need everybody to be quiet,”we were warned by the guy with the big camera and the unbearably white tennis shoes. “When I give the signal, you guys go rushing around that corner.” He quickly turned and peered through a crack in the doorway.
So we waited. And waited. And waited some more. White Shoes kept his eye on the door while, onscreen, Carrey pranced around like an eager-to-impress understudy in H.M.S. Pinafore. “You know what would really surprise her?” I’d thrown it out to the room, but no one rose up to take the bait. Undeterred, I continued: “If we waited for her to go to the bathroom and then all came rushing out of the stalls. I bet THAT would surprise her.”
“GO!GO!GO!”whispered White Shoes and the next thing I knew I was in the midst of the surging crowd, rushing around the corner and charging into the room like the Allied troops storming the beaches of Normandy except that in this case instead of M1 Garands and .45’s, we were armed with presents, cameras, and a half-eaten bowl of artichoke dip.
Lily did a masterful job of feigning surprise.
All quiet on the home front as Fondy and I try to catch-up on all of the shows we missed while she was away. Despite its incredibly off-the-wall nature and potentially offensive subject matter, I was blown away by Aachi & Ssipak, a 2006 South Korean movie that somebody in the visual effects department lent me last week. Visceral, violent, scatological, sexual – but an incredible-looking movie! MTV apparently picked up the rights to adapt it to an animated series. I wish ’em luck.
Mailbag –
CMDragonia writes: “My brother is also a huge SG1/SGA fan, and when he saw the season finale, he was enamored not only by the episode itself, but of the picture of the Prometheus/Odyssey/Daedalus/Apollo/Phoenix used in the McKay/General Lorne scene. Any chance it will be printed and sold to the adoring fans??:
Answer: I don’t know if MGM has plans for that particular pic. I’ll certainly make a special request on your brother’s behalf.
Alipeeps writes: “So what show did you write your first sample script for?”
Answer: I wrote a Seinfeld spec, but it was our scifi feature that won us the right to pitch for Stargate.
Jedi43 writes: “My 44th Birthday is coming up this Tuesday. Could you dedicate that days blog to me?”
Answer: I’d be happy to do so if I remember. Remind me!
Penny writes: “If you hadn’t got your break would you have continued?? Did you have a back up plan?? Was there someone who took you under their arm that you feel indebted to?”
Answer: I don’t know what I would have done if things had not panned out. I could have been a professional banjo player, I suppose. Of course, that would have necessitated my learning to play the banjo, but I’m always up for a challenge. As for those who helped me out over the course of my career – I dedicated a past blog entry to them: http://josephmallozzi.com/2007/05/31/may-30-2007/
Anne Teldy’s Little Sister writes: “I have just spent an hour on the phone with Anne reading Mr. M’s posts and most of the comments that have posted since she went into the hospital.”
Answer: Tell Anne we’re thinking about her and wishing her all the best for a speedy recovery.
Jenny Robin writes: “Ronon hosts a cotillion in celebration of Arbor Day.”
Answer: Thanks for ruining the surprise. That’s the premise for our 100th episode.
PG15 writes: “do you ever think up multi-season arcs for Stargate in your spare time, like an “Eureka!” moment? Or do you just consider 1 season at a time?
Answer: We take it one season at a time.
Tiger’s Eyes writes: “Your exposition of useful approaches for entry-level TV writers is indirectly very helpful as well for someone who’s still learning the ropes in publications, but who sits on the other side of the desk, and needs to learn how to work well with aspiring writers.”
Answer: I’m intrigued. Tell us about your work.
Moms2398 writes: “When pitching ideas, should a potential writer have an agent as well?”
Answer: You will need an agent to find out what shows are open to pitches, send your writing samples to the various productions, and hopefully get you in to pitch.
LostCityGuardian writes: “…do new ideas for what you are writing come in spontaneous flashes or do they appear from trying to hammer out storylines in a structured, disciplined way?”
Answer: Spontaneous flashes are rare. More often than not, stories grow out of a kernel of an idea that is pitched out in the room, then considered, critiqued, and ultimately crafted in to something workable.
AMZ writes: “Could you please explain the process a writer goes through to get a pitch?”
Answer: This is where your agent comes in. If there’s a particular show you’re interested in pitching to, mention it to your agent and they’ll find it if the production is accepting freelance pitches. If they are and like your writing samples, you may receive an invitation to pitch.
Paul William Tenny writes: “I remember Alex Epstein telling me that Stargate was virtually impossible to get an invite for (pitching), and that his agent had tried a couple of times over the years with no success.”
Answer: Alex may not have pitched Stargate, but he’s done pretty damn well for himself. That said, a lot of the time, getting in to pitch has less to do with perceived talent than it does with timing. There have been some years when we have been closed to pitches simply because we had more than enough stories in play. In other years, we’ve invited writers to pitch early on in the season while we still had plenty of open slots. The way it usually works is a agent will contact the production offices and ask us whether we’d be open to pitches. If we are, we’ll give the agent the go-ahead to send in the candidate’s writing samples. If we like what we read, that writer will be invited to pitch.
Random writing question that popped into my head… what current TV show (US or otherwise) would you love to write a script for?
P.S. Have you picked up the new Iain M Banks book – Matter – yet?
“I wrote a Seinfeld spec, but it was our scifi feature that won us the right to pitch for Stargate.”
Any chance of getting a peak at either of those? 😀
Will Major Lorne get some more screen time in the next season? ‘Cause there a lot of fans who would appreciate it! And in how many eps will we be able to see him in Season-V?
-Also I personally would love to see Mr. Smith do some martial arts in SGA, instead of playing with a P90!
Definitely not ever inviting you to a surprise party, Joe. No offense.
Since I had my usual abysmal timing in commenting on yesterday’s post (as in I just did *sigh*), I’m just going to copy and paste it in here and hope you answer my questions.
to Anne Teldy’s Little Sister Thanks muchly for the update on Anne, I’m glad to hear that she’s doing better. Please tell her that we miss her comments here and hope that she recovers quickly. Is there any chance that you might get a PO Box to which we could send get well cards?
Joe, thank you for the insight into the process of how to go about getting picked up as a script writer. It’s not something I would be good at, but it’s good to have a place to point others toward who are interested in doing so. There are some really fantastic authors out there (a lot of them fanficcers) who aren’t pros yet who could benefit greatly from this advice.
As for SciFi not saying anything about season 6 yet, just let us know when we should start sending our letters to them and to the sponsors of the show. I’m not above bribing the mail room staff and secretaries with chocolate and other goodies in order to be heard by TPTB! Atlantis is the only show currently in production that I watch religiously and I don’t want it to go away any time in the near (or not so near) future.
Also, I’m very glad to hear that Ark of Truth is doing so well! Hopefully that means MGM will greenlight another SG-1 movie as well as Stargate Universe. Yeah, I’m a greedy little Gate Fan!
Question I: I’m with CMDragonia’s little brother regarding the ships of the Gateverse. Any idea why marketing at MGM hasn’t given the okay for models? I would so buy the Beliskner (Thor’s ship), Prometheus and Daedalus models!
Question II: I noticed CPT Vega carrying an M4 with an M203 attachment in one of yesterday’s pics. Is there any chance we will get to see her fire that M203? Those things are a blast (quite literally) and I think it would be wicked cool if she got to fire some of the specialized rounds available for that weapon. I would love to see an MEI Hellhound used against a Wraith dart or a flechette round used against a Wraith!
Lastly, to Susan the Tartan Turtle and Wams352, count me and a squad of other fangirls in on that expedition to P3X-HNK (hunk)! 😀
Hi Joe, I have just a few questions! 1.Will we see the Replicator world again or will it just be the Replicator-Weir and her crew??? 2. Will we see more of Shep’s ex-wife in Season 5??? 3. Are there any current plans to revisit Ford and if not is there a chance we could see him later in Season 5???
I have never seen the fun in surprise birthday parties, not since I attended one for a 95 year old woman.
The look of abject fear on her face as we all rushed out at her shouting “SURPRISE 95” will live with me till my dying day.
And the paramedic’s acerbic words as he continued cardiac massage, pummelling the poor old dears chest, “It’s never….a good idea…to surprise a geriatric…with a dickey ticker!!!”
Definitely put a downer on that party I can tell you.
Shame she missed the stripper, it’s hard to find a WW1 veteran with his own teeth willing to wear a thong.
Pauline (What do you want humour?)
IF I ever have to suffer another birthday party, would you please come? I’d love to see(or hear about) you torturing the other guests. Glad to see you’ve had a pleasant day,and here’s hoping Anne Teldy will soon be back among us, so to speak.
Quick call-out to other posters coming to Shore Leave. I’m all for a get-together. I’ll be attending the Con as a volunteer worker, so should be fairly assessible during the convention. Who else is planning to attend? (Thanks Mr. M. for letting use your site for this purpose)
Hello Joe,
I can just see you and your witty mind throwing out those “suggestions” at the B-day Party… good for bunches of giggles on my part! I, on the other hand, have never had a surprise party, so I’m not sure how I would react, but my guess is that Lily was very grateful either way! It looks like there were some yummy food items on the menu. Did you and Fondy at least enjoy yourselves?
BTW, speaking of Birthdays… mine is tomorrow, St. Pat’s Day…hence my name! Having moved to the great NW last year and having all my siblings and father on the east coast, it would me a lot to me to get a “shout out” in your Blog!
Thanks for the mail bag. I am always grateful when you answer the fans questions.
Tootles,
Patricia Lee
ps… I do hope Anne’s little sister keeps us up to date on Anne’s progress! She is in my prayers daily. It amazes me that we, your dedicated blog readers, have grown to care about someone we have never met face to face. But we honestly do!
GET WELL ANNE!!! We all are looking forward to reading your review of the Season 5 show, Whispers, which contains your name sake!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Boston. It is said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.
Wishing you and all, the cast and crew “The Luck of the Irish, may the wind be always on your backs”.
Take Care
Jean :~)
Joe the Terror at Surprise Parties. Did the olive platter get half eaten as well, Joe?
Thanks for answering my question too. Agents over here in Australia seem a bit redundant to me, but I’m starting to realise if I move overseas it will probably be a necessity.
Jedi43 writes: “My 44th Birthday is coming up this Tuesday. Could you dedicate that days blog to me?”
Answer: I’d be happy to do so if I remember. Remind me!
Will do Joe
Ahh, the joys of surprise parties. About ten years ago, my friends threw me a “surprise” party. Unfortunately, I found out about it because I overheard some planning. I practiced my “surprised” face, and of course, lied about it when asked if I was surprised.
Watched the AoT again with my family today and it was even more enjoyable the second time. Loved the story, CGI and scores.
A party mix olive platter. Gee, great, I am going to have nightmares. Nevermind me, long story. Wildly inappropriate.
Ah yes, the infamous Bathroom Ambush. Except they waited until I was in the lone empty stall and had my underpants halfway down … oh yeah. Also wildly inappropriate, although there was neither olives nor artichoke dip involved. Half-eaten or otherwise.
Dear Anne Teldy’s Little Sister, please assure her the Space Cows are being well cared for, they ravenously await her return. Buwahahahamooohahamooha.
Ohmygods. Just saw Ark of Truth for the first time!!! OHMYGOSH!!! That – brilliance – ohmiosh – SO GOOD – hyperventilating – can’t breathe – *dies happy*
Oh, wait, season 5… can’t die yet.
Question. Have you ever read “Off Armaggedon Reef” by David Weber? I thouroughly enjoyed it – an engaging read from cover to cover – though it was a bit unbelievable at points. I suggest this book as a nice introduction to Weber’s writing style – I myself am preparing to dive into his Honour Harrington series within the next week.
Thanks for all the info on the pitching process.
Just out of curiosity, do you (Stargate) go looking for freelancers or do they always come to you? Do you get a lot, relatively speaking, of those calls, people looking to freelance? And, just for good measure, do those people ever expect (egotistically or not) to get added to the staff?
For your viewing pleasure, for everyone who thinks boybands are way overdone, check out this link…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc1Js9P3urw
Hahahahahahahahahaha 😀
Hi Mr. Mallozzi,
After reading all the great responses to “Fast Forward 1”, I finally picked up a copy. Good choice, and I like how Mr. Anders was willing to answer questions on it.
Also on the book front, have you happened to get a copy of Banks’ “Matter” yet? And would you consider making it (or another Culture novel) a future BOTM selection?
So you never told us: Who is Lily?
MTV apparently picked up the rights to adapt it to an animated series. I wish ’em luck.
Nah, it’s dead — or at least it’s not on the schedule of projects to be developed. My husband is one of two people on MTV Animation’s payroll and he’d never heard of it. Right now he’s working on the Paris Hilton/Stan Lee collaboration.
(I wish I was making that up but I’m not.)
That cake looks incredibly yummy. Please tell us all about it. 🙂
Joe,
You are just entirely too funny! I love the havoc you created at the “surprise” party.
Thanks for answering my question!
MA Milan
Haha, you live to make people’s lives miserable!
With a whole lot of unexpected expenses at once, this poor student suddenly found herself even poorer and hungry. So she went trotting off to the student association office for a food hand out. Imagine you are on Master Chef with these ingredients…
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/8002/fooodvx6.jpg
Quick! What gourmet meal do you produce in 2 hours?
Hi Joe,
How would you describe Alicia Vega? what kind of character is she going to be personality-wise? …and can you post some more pictures of her when you get the chance as they are always appriciated 😀
…Oh and I was wondering is the team *Hopefully Vega :D* going to be doing any Fox hunting in season 5?
Another thought hit me the other day aswell (yeah it did hurt :P) Now that there’s the Daedalus transporting goods to Atlantis does that include bacon? I remember bacon being mentioned in S1 when two guards were talking about things they wish they had brought to Atlantis… and that kinda gave rise to the question 😛
And last, Will the Phoenix make an appearance in S5?
Thanks,
Fenrir.
I’m not sure how this works in TV writing, and my experience was years ago, and living in LA is obviously a huge advantage, but taking a script writing class may be a great help in both learning the craft and gaining contacts.
In the ‘80’s I took an extension class at UCLA in screenwriting for features. We all helped each other flesh out our stories, and in our group were two young guys who had a great idea. The class was wonderfully supportive of each other’s work, and most of us finished our scripts, including the two guys.
The instructor showed their script to her husband who was a production manager. From there, it moved quickly up the ladder of approvals and financing, and finally into production. This was how “Short Circuit” was made, and it launched the careers of Steve Wilson and Brent Maddock. This rarely happens, but you just never know.
I know that nobody knows who I am, but could you retroactively dedicate today’s (16th’s) blog to me anyhow? It is my 18th birthday today.
I’m just wondering how the shooting season works. How many weeks of work in a row before a break…how long is the break…then back to work for how long??? Just a question I’ve always had and never had anyone to ask!
GeekBoy has gotten seriously hooked on Alton Brown’s Good Eats series. We just finished watching “Say Cheese” and “Your Pad Thai or Mine?” I’m saving “Fudge Factor” and “The Art of Darkness III” for a special occasion, since I don’t have any chocolate on hand, and I’m pretty sure I can’t watch two shows about chocolate without eating some! I’ve been keeping my supply at work, where my coworkers have all given up chocolate for Lent, so I know it’s safe. Here at home I have to hide it unless I want to share. And I don’t want to share.
hi, joe,
i bought ‘ark of truth’ yesterday and have watched it twice. i enjoyed it the first time, but really enjoyed it the second. my family enjoyed it too.
i’m VERY much looking forward to ‘continuum’!! i hope i haven’t set my expectations too high (jack, s/j ship, lots more sam), but we’ll see.
just wanted to say well done. 🙂
sally 😀
Hey Joe,
well you didn’t answer my questions but that’s pretty much what I expected. however I convinced this guy to ask himself so…
your first sample script was for Seinfeld? awesome I love that show! and now I’m kind of in the mood for an episode 😀 yes I’m very sorry but I watch other shows too LOL anyway I really like that pic of the cake. hm I need to find those cookies…
so The Kindred Part 2 managed to get a 1.3 for live +same day, that’s pretty good. I’ve been comparing the second half of seasons 3 and 4. both averaged a 1.24 but season 4 has had more viewers. this is truly great news and will hopefully have an impact on SCI FI’s decision to renew the show
When I saw the picture of that fruity cake, I was immediately reminded of cakes in Korea. They love their fruit covered cakes there. Ever had green tea cake? It’s not that great. And seriously avoid their “chocolate” cake like the plague. Mashisoyo? No. Just a helpful piece of advise for you.
It sounds to me like you’d be a helpful person to have at a surprise party. Provided, of course, that you arrived early enough to make all your helpful suggestions.
-Emily
mmm nice cake!
Have you ever come across a storyline in your dreams?
Anne,
My thoughts and prayers are with you for a fast, painless and uncomplicated recovery!
I remember a lot of people asking about the bathrooms on Atlantis going back a ways. Did you pitch the idea of including a bathroom scene in an episode? Was it just for little ole us? *batts eyelashes*
Kimberly
I HATE computers! back in the day when I was using a typewriter at least when I’d finished typing there was proof at the end. I finished my homework assignment for my creative writing class and forgot to save before closing Word! Now I’m really pissed with myself and if you’ll excuse me for a moment I’ll just go and find something innocuous to throw at something else like maybe myself at a bus!!
@Arctic Goddess
Looking at your website, there doesn’t seem to be anyway to buy your CDs. Are they not available yet?
Dovil Said:
I was planning on turning up at industry people’s homes at 3am with a handful of napkins scribbed on with crayon about how the guest actor, coincidentally named after myself, and coincidentally played by a super model, no hang on, scrub the last part, shows up and has everyone fall in love with her and then erm, something about crossdressing, caves, and sentient mist. I’m a bit hazy on the rest, but considering I was planning on incoherently shouting it while being dragged away by the police it’s probably moot.
Ya know, you had a nice idea going there until you wrote “sentient mist”. That idea was done in the episode “Home”. I especially liked the crossdressing and caves….when I first read it, I thought it said crossdressing caves and really liked THAT idea! I’m sure it would go over very well with TPTB. *wink wink*
Tongue-in-cheek,
Kimberly
Hey Joe, thanks for the great advice in yesterday’s post. I found it extremely useful and I’ll definitely refer back to it later in the future. I do however, have one little question, that is, how, or better yet where do I go to look for agents?
This is for Anne Teldy (or any siblings who relate messages):
I only now just scrolled through and found the comment where you said you were going into the hospital (sometimes comments=too much to read some days) but anyway: We live in the same city! Once you get settled in, let me know a way I can contact you. We can make a Friday night 9pm Stargate-watching Club (how many people are allowed in those rooms?). As long as you can put up with me saying “They are so in love!” at every John and Rodney scene, I’m completely serious!
LostCityGuardian writes: “…do new ideas for what you are writing come in spontaneous flashes or do they appear from trying to hammer out storylines in a structured, disciplined way?”
Answer: Spontaneous flashes are rare. More often than not, stories grow out of a kernel of an idea that is pitched out in the room, then considered, critiqued, and ultimately crafted in to something workable.
I find that interesting. You and the rest of the writers, if I understand what you’re saying correctly, largely take a very structured approach. The research I have seen suggests that most original ideas originate in the subconscious, seemingly manifesting themselves as spontaneous ideas. However, this could be the origin of the original kernel that you guys develop. Would you agree?
Thanks for yesterday’s post about how to break into writing for TV. I really need to see about getting an agent. I really should have sent out some query letters by this point, but I suppose I never feel like I’m ready, although I do have what I consider one solid TV spec and a pretty good (although admittedly a bit silly) screenplay. Just out of curiosity…you say it was a sci-fi screenplay you wrote that got you the chance to pitch for Stargate. What might one write to get a similar chance, at some point in the future when Stargate offers some writers a chance to pitch? Would something sci-fi be the best bet? What about fantasy? (I’ve got this “good vampire” idea I’ve been tossing around in my head for a few years. Here’s the twist: he’s *not* a detective of any kind.) Or does the genre really matter as long as the writing’s good?
First, hello to Anne Teldy and her sister. Anne, continued best wishes for your well-being in all ways; and Anne’s sis, thanks for your consideration in keeping Joe and the rest of us posted.
Joe, as is so often the case, it was a great pleasure to read your blog entry. This one vignette holds almost everything I look for in a good read. Along with a)your expert’s touch with atmosphere, b) fresh and well-used dialogue, and c) very creative characterization (loved the inclusion of Jim Carrey as an unwitting and somewhat pathetic secondary character), your careful timing of the patiently waiting plot gives your readers a nice payoff at the end. Plus, your simple mention of M1 Garands and .45’s used in the D-Day invasion displays the usefulness of background research – all this for one brief but very effective and very humorous article. 😀
While I deal primarily with expository writing, I wouldn’t hesitate to use the story in this blog entry as part of a primer for those who want to improve their writing.
In response to your request to give a little info on what I do, a bit of background: The publications group that has employed me for almost four years is small, with a very definite nonfiction niche audience. As such, we also don’t often accept freelance submissions: Our directors and the editor-in-chief know what they’re looking for, and they usually solicit potential contributors for a certain kind of article or book – whether those approached have a background in writing or not.
I don’t have more than an amateur’s journalistic and literary credentials; so after I did my own pitch to work with editing rather than administration, my boss – another person with solid mentoring instincts – put me to work as an apprentice and general dogsbody. At first I did copyediting and proofreading only, and was matched with experienced (and tolerant) writers who could help me out a bit even while I helped them with anything that needed correcting or strengthening in regard to the mechanics of writing. The Chicago Manual of Style became my best friend, and I’d note that a well-accepted style manual can be a very useful tool for both nonfiction and fiction writers as well, right along with other standard reference works.
Over the past few years, I’ve gradually moved up to doing articles and/or book editing. Our process can be quite different from what you might find at well-known publishing houses. With that in mind, for my professional journalist colleagues and me, article/book editing involves doing major rewrites as needed; and for me, the subsequent copyediting as well. I now work with those who have much of worth to communicate but can’t easily express it in writing. It’s not a tutoring relationship: My primary function is to help the writer focus on what’s unique about his/her experience and insight, with an eye toward what will be most compelling and instructive (and, one hopes, occasionally entertaining) for our target audience.
Once I’ve been assigned a manuscript, my role is initially similar to that of an interviewer. I take my own notes on the preliminary manuscript, and do background reading on both the author (when a bio is available) and unfamiliar issues or sources that appear in the ms. I do lunch with the author when possible, or at the very least, have a long-ish first talk on the phone. Goodwill and trust on both ends go a long way toward reaching a mutually satisfactory goal. If you find you don’t like each other at all but neither of you can opt out, act like a professional, whether you can claim that title yet or not. You can still reach the finish line in good shape.
– There’s more, and I wound up writing at far too much length for a blog comment. Later, I’ll post my essay in its entirety on my own blog, and post the link here for anyone who might wish to read more. As stated above, our publications procedures differ (of necessity) quite a bit from the bigger-world norm; so I don’t know if my observations would have general interest. Still, for would-be authors, it could be useful to know how things run at one small publishing operation – the first place many aspiring writers go when seeking to get their ideas into print.
Hmph! well the only damage I’d be able to do at a bus would be to run straight at an oncoming one cuz they travel way too slow round here to successfully throw yourself under one.
So I’ve decided to console myself with coffee, choccie biccies and Sky One are re-runnng Atlantis from season one so I’m going to take a trip down memory lane.
Hey Joe, as a reader of your blogs, I’m just wondering, what would be the best 5 to 10 books to read as a start to get into the fantasy/sci-fi genre(not the business, but as an interest)?
Another thing, do you know who deals with the selling of the episodes(Atlantis) and the airing of them down in Australia?
Thanks for the link to “Title of the Song” Lise — I LOVE a capella singing when done well and this was done well.
I assume this was a college group? Very cleverly conceived and so funny! Refreshing use of low-energy, lyrical rhyming of a vocal nature. Ha!
Still suffering from lack of new infusion of a Stargate eppy; administering frequent doses of prerecorded DVR of S4 and DVD sets to compensate.
UGH! Now I can’t stop!!Title of the Song contagion — HELP!!
Carol Z
(winning the good fight against the crazed ninja squirrels :D)
The teslan Said:
Also on the book front, have you happened to get a copy of Banks’ “Matter” yet? And would you consider making it (or another Culture novel) a future BOTM selection?
One of the very first BOTM selections was a Culture novel… Look to Windward, I think? If you search through the blog, you’ll find the discussion of it.
shiningwit you said that AoT will be on Sky, when will that be. Like you I have just watched Atlantis episode one The Rising, ah the memories of SGC with Jack and Daniel.
Loved the bit were Daniel keeps trying to persuade Jack to let him go to Atlantis with the rest of the team and Jack’s reply is a simple “NO!” poor Daniel whumped again.
Anne Teldy keep fighting those darn Carnivorous Space Cows, we’ll be watching your six and Joe can take point. Come back to us soon.
Pauline
When you wrote the Michael/Teyla/Beckett arc for the end of season 4, did you plan on stretching it out to season 5?
For shingwit
Enable the auto-save function in MSWord so it will save your work in preset increments as you work, (every 5 min, 15 min., etc.) It does this in the background, so you won’t be disturbed. Also, you may be able to recover what you wrote. Check out the Help section in the application.
#1 rule when using any word processing app, begin by “Saving as” and naming the new file before you even write a sentence.
Good luck!
Carol Z
LOL you’re just dangerous wherever you go, aren’t you? *chuckles at the whole party thing*
The whole explanation about the writing/pitching process has been very interesting. Quite the complex set of hoops to leap through! But I find it interesting to learn what makes things “tick,” so all these little lessons we get on production, writing, etc etc. are very intriguing. 🙂
Is there a similar process for the folks who do the concept art, and things of that nature?
Dear Joe,
You will have a busy Thuesday March 18th because, as for Jedi43, it will be my birthday too but I’ll turn 51.
I hope that you will dedicate your March 18th blog to both of us !
In order to help the franchise and the ratings, I ordered my Ark of truth dvd on Amazon very early in January. Bad idea ! The Ark is on sale here in Québec in stores since March the 11th for 19,95$ and I will not get it for my birthday (snif! snif! snif!)and I will pay 25,00$ with the costs for shipping!
But I consider myself fortunate enough to read your blog; it help me to wait for the conclusion of 10 great years of sci-fi.
Especially your March 14th and 15th entries.Very interesting, very instructive and very kind of you for those who start in the writing business. Surprisingly it is also my experience as a visual artist’ agent. For a sculptor, to be able to make a living with his art is 33% talent and work , 33% connections,33% luck and 1% for the rest. Only 1% of visual artists earn more than 30 000$/year. I am sure that it’s the same for the writers.
By the way, for Continuum, I will buy it in store next July!
Thanks for all
First, let me add my thanks for the writing tips. I’m just starting in my attempts to go professional and any information is useful.
Second, one of my favorite things about SG1/SGA is the music. Its amazing. There were rumors awhile back that the soundtrack for Ark of Truth would be released. Would you happen to know if it will? Also, I love the Best of Season 1 compilation from a number of years ago and was wondering if there were any plans to bring out more of those?
Thanks.
The following contains spoilers for the Ark of Truth. If you have not seen it, read no further.
The music in AoT was incredible. The reworking of themes from the first Stargate movie made AoT for me. The way the thematics for the Ori were worked into the theme from Stargate The Movie for the opening credits to AoT was incredible. As was the play on the “Through the Gate” theme from the original movie as the Odyssey passed through the Supergate. The way the scene was shot was also an incredible reference, with Cam’s (and Carter’s, I think) face dissolving into the stream as he passed the event horizon, just like Jackson’s did in the original. Absolutely brilliant. My congratulations to everyone who worked on the film for putting out such a fine product.
Dearest Raven6666 … one hopes you read the comments too …
Find an anthology which contains Harlan Ellison’s “”Repent Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman.” Top-notch, my absolute number one favorite short story in the world. The Galaxy. No, the whole freakin’ universe.
Hi to Anne Teldy’s sister – thanks for the update. Here’s hoping she’ll be back online soon and continues to get better.
NZNeep: The REAL Neep Said:
Haha, you live to make people’s lives miserable!
With a whole lot of unexpected expenses at once, this poor student suddenly found herself even poorer and hungry. So she went trotting off to the student association office for a food hand out. Imagine you are on Master Chef with these ingredients…
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/8002/fooodvx6.jpg
Quick! What gourmet meal do you produce in 2 hours?
Well, stick the pasta in a pan, boil, add a cupasoup, sweetcorn and tuna… Mmm, mmm… scrummy!! And then add some raw sugar to the fruit salad and weetabix and there you go! One meal, fit for a queen…!
Or you could just boil some noodles and eat the pizza snacks… Or eat a lot of boiled rice…with some soy sauce for flavour!!
You know, I get the feeling the people giving this lot out haven’t thought much about what a person really needs to make a few meals…
…though I could be wrong…
Leesa Perrie
Carol Z Said:
For shingwit…
Thank you for that bit of info. Am doing as you suggest right …NOW!
Pauline Said:
shiningwit you said that AoT will be on Sky, when will that be. Like you I have just watched Atlantis episode one The Rising, ah the memories of SGC with Jack and Daniel.
http://www.skyone.co.uk/programme/pgeProgramme.aspx?pid=6
I’m searching frantically for when its going to be shown but the site is behaving badly and may need to be sent to its room indefinitely. AoT has been advertised for over the Easter Hols, as soon as I get any more info I’ll let you know.
Incidentally Joe, when are you going to get a coffee machine in here, I get awful caffeine cravings and having to go into the kitchen disrupts my tenuous thought processes.
Hello Joseph, sa va bien?
Une journée toute a fait banal aujourd’hui..justement c’est le pire…pas une réponse a mon email, rien…Soit vous me détéstez ou vous me trouvez bizzard..en fait le pire c’est de ne même pas savoir
“(-_-)..
Quel Lundi Nul (;_;)
“NZNeep: The REAL Neep Said:
Haha, you live to make people’s lives miserable!
…
Quick! What gourmet meal do you produce in 2 hours?”
That’s easy. You order a pizza to be delivered a few doors down. Spread the uncooked spiral noodles on the pathway up to the front door along with a generous helping of the soy sauce. Hide in the bushes and wait. When you hear them crunch under the feet of the pizza delivery guy, you spring out of the bushes and chuck the can of SPC fruit salad at his head while he is off balance from having stepped in the slippery soy sauce. Then steal the pizza. If you are feeling generous, you can leave him the bar of soap so he can clean some of the crunched noodle and soy sauce from his shoes and pants. If you are feeling malicious, you can pour the raw sugar into the delivery car’s gas tank and steal the other pizzas at the same time. If you are feeling ironic, leave the pizza-flavored SNAX in place of the pizza. Regardless, it sounds like a fun time for all! You get pizza and the delivery guy gets workman’s comp and a free trip to the emergency room!
Hey Joe,
I hope you read some of the Ark of Truth reviews on Amazon.com. There is a good cross-section of opinion, from folks who really loved everything about the movie to folks who didn’t care for it. Also, I noticed most of them mentioned how much the wish Richard Dean Anderson had been in it. I think these people are a better gauge of the general feelings of the audience than Gateworld or any other fandom based site. The bottom line is they’re just ordinary fans of the show…they tune in, enjoy or don’t, and generally like it still.
Joe
This is a list of the volunteers for the mission to planet Hunk – P3X-HNK. (Hope I have them all listed).
wams352
kdvb
Barbaro
maggiemayday
Anne Teldy
Anne Teldy’s little sister
Thornyrose
alipeeps
sulien
and
deeinsouthafrica
As deeinsouthafrica pointed out us weak women could be at risk with all those men around. So we would need to take some of our own hunks around to look after us.
Major Lorne
Colonel Sheppard
Rodney
Radek
Carson Beckett
Chuck
Colonel Caldwell
Daniel Jackson
Teal’c
Gen O’Neill
You might think that we are taking too many friendly males with us – but a girl can never travel to strange new planets without taking along protection.
🙂 🙂
susanthetartanturtle
NZNeep: The REAL Neep Said:
Quick! What gourmet meal do you produce in 2 hours?
Who needs two hours?
I can’t see a couple of the tins – I bet one of then is baked beans. Simple meal, just heat up the baked beans and add tuna. Yum.
Hi Joe:
Watching the Last Man and seeing those pictures of the collapsed building I was thinking of a possible opening in season five. While Sheppard & Co are trapped in the rubble. Todd happens to come by in one of his darts to do damage to Micheal’s facility he sees his old pals needing help beams them aboard flies them them back to Atlantis. Todd’s dept is paid back to Sheppard. A couple of time Todd did ask Sheppard for help. Am I pitching Noooo. Just thought for an alternative opening for season five.
Anyhow, are going to see Todd again? Perhaps in the mid season opener maybe he can pal up with Daniel 🙂
Oh an enjoy St.Paddy Day:)
LS
Sounds like a good time was had by all. Hopefully the birthday girl enjoyed it, at least.
It’s finally come around to spring break time again and for once, I am actually able to travel. So on the off chance I don’t get internet access until I return, I wanted to wish you and your family a very happy (early) Easter. I hope whatever you end up doing, you get a good meal out of it. And speaking of, has there ever been an Irish dish you’ve just been dying to try or recommend (painfully clear where I’m traveling to now, isn’t it)?
The bathroom is the ultimate place to be surprised. Who doesn’t “retreat” to the bathroom for a little solitude now and then. As a type of sanctuary everyone is at their most relaxed when in the bathroom. Making it the easiest place to give them a surprise (and subsequent heart attack).
Note to self: Never go to the bathroom when playing tag-based games. As the bathroom is apparently fair game for being tagged.
«On March 17, 2008 at 9:52 am susanthetartanturtle Said:
Joe
This is a list of the volunteers for the mission to planet Hunk – P3X-HNK. (Hope I have them all listed).
wams352
kdvb
Barbaro
maggiemayday
Anne Teldy
Anne Teldy’s little sister
Thornyrose
alipeeps
sulien
and
deeinsouthafrica
As deeinsouthafrica pointed out us weak women could be at risk with all those men around. So we would need to take some of our own hunks around to look after us.
Major Lorne
Colonel Sheppard
Rodney
Radek
Carson Beckett
Chuck
Colonel Caldwell
Daniel Jackson
Teal’c
Gen O’Neill
You might think that we are taking too many friendly males with us – but a girl can never travel to strange new planets without taking along protection.
🙂
susanthetartanturtle»
Me too, me too, me too : you dont know if some aliens could speak french !!!
Morgia 🙂
Please Mr Mallozzi,
Where is the Tria? When are we going to see her/it? Please, she’s just been lying out there in the middle of nowehere and we haven’t heard a damn thing about her. Please, I implore you, can we please hear/see something about her in season 5? Let the expedition keep her or use her as a midway station. What do you say?
Thanks, though I know you won’t answer this!
Hi! Long time reader, never posted before, but I had a weird question and wasn’t sure who else to ask. (Good start, huh?)
I got a call today saying something about me winning a sweepstakes, but was in a really noisy restaurant so I didn’t hear what. Now, I’ve been getting all kinds of spam calls lately about “free” cruise tickets, so I assumed that’s what it was and told them I wasn’t interested. The woman sounded really surprised, and it wasn’t until after I hung up that it dawned on me I had entered the Get in the Gate Sweepstakes months ago. It didn’t even enter my head because, really, when do I ever win real stuff? So I went to call back just to check and the caller had no number.
Now, maybe it was just another cruise scam, but I’m going to kick myself if I actually won the walk-on bit and shot myself in the foot because I couldn’t hear and didn’t bother to step outside. I know, even if it was the Get in the Gate folks, I turned them down and the prize would have gone to someone else, but not knowing whether I screwed myself or not, and how badly, is bugging me. So, if you’d be so kind, could you tell me how I might find out whether they tried calling me or not? I really appreciate it.
Since you said you screen these posts, here’s the number they called, in case it helps:
xxx
Lesson of the day: When the phone rings during lunch and it’s no one you know, let it go to voicemail.
Thank you! And thanks for the awesome show, too! I absolutely love Atlantis.
…or apparently the posts immediately come up for the world to see. Huh. Okay, well, however this works, I hope posting that number here isn’t mistake #2 of today. 😛
Someday many, many years from now, when the incredibly long-running Atlantis series is in reruns, will you read some of the fanfic that you’re not allowed to read now? Because you really should. There is some truly well-written and hilarious stuff out there!
Hi Joe!
Will we get a Sheppard-centered episode in the first half of Season 5? We’d appreciate an elaboration on that, but a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ would do for starters.
You know, deeinsouthafrica needs to meet some DPW burner chicks or Death Guild Thunderdome grrrls, she’d never doubt a woman’s capacity for self-defense ever again.
She mentioned gang rape. At first I was offended, but then I wondered, did she mean us Earth Women, or the Hunks? Heheheheheeee ….
(Stands to attention and waves hands windmill like in the air)
Put me down for a visit to P3X-HNK.
Some one is bound to twist an ankle, usually Daniel but hey I’m ready with my pack of frozen peas.
And god forbid we have one of those accelerated pregnancy’s you may need my services.
When do we leave and where the heck is the rendezvous point!!!
Pauline….rubber gloved and ready to go.
Finally got the time to comment (read the entry yesterday, laughed ass off, though not literally). Oh Joe, that is pure EVIL. One day, I hope to influence people in such a masterful way as well. It works so well to provide entertainment while there is a lack of it (no, The Riddler doesn’t count as entertainment. Yuck.).
Bejabers and begorrah! Tis good ol’ St Paddy’s Day an me fresh out o’ me usual tipple o’ guinness. Tis s’posin’ I am that a drop o’ the potcheen I got brewin out in me shed usin’ ol’ hose pipe an’ buckets wi’ a complimicated set o’ radiator hoses fer effect is goin’ ta hafta suffice.
Crap, I can’t even type an irish accent- ooh, request please, can we have an irish crew member please in season 5, I love an irish accent, makes me go all wobbly at the knees.
Now where did I put my drink?
Hi Joe,
Saw “The Last Man” again, for like the bazillionth time! The one scene I keep going back to is the “The Kiss” that Rodney and Keller shared, who decided how the kiss was going to be emotionally portrayed, the actors or the director? And also who practiced more David/Jewel or David/Paul?
Thanks
Elisa
Hey Joe!
I am guessing then, but your attempt at Seinfeld, that you are a Seinfeld fan? If so, what is your favorite episode? Personally, I’m split between The Parking Garage and The Chinese Restaurant.
Thanks as always!
– Enzo Aquarius
Wooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!
It’s official! Season 5 in July 08! Hurrah!
*4 more months to go, 4 more months to go, 4 more months to go, 4 more months to go….*
Why, yes. I do realise the last season only finished just over a week ago. You point being?
*4 more months to go, 4 more months to go, 4 more months to go….*
😀
shiningwit Said:
Bejabers and begorrah! Tis good ol’ St Paddy’s Day an me fresh out o’ me usual tipple o’ guinness. Tis s’posin’ I am that a drop o’ the potcheen I got brewin out in me shed usin’ ol’ hose pipe an’ buckets wi’ a complimicated set o’ radiator hoses fer effect is goin’ ta hafta suffice.
Crap, I can’t even type an irish accent- ooh, request please, can we have an irish crew member please in season 5, I love an irish accent, makes me go all wobbly at the knees.
Now where did I put my drink?
If you’re drinking potcheen it’ll be more a case of “where did I put my brain?” before too long! 😆
Eeeeeeevil stuff. Fun. But evil. 😀
Party ~~~
That lily cake must of been difficult, imagine getting every little piece just right except one and somehow that messes the whole thing up.
Oh since the Ark of truth was the topic of discussion for some people here, the plot twist with the replicator taking control of that IOA guys body was just creepy, I mean that is the first time they’ve done that, and lol human exoskeleton one, pure scifi!.#