Today, it gives me great pleasure to turn this blog over to Stargate: Universe Executive Consultant and Resident Deputy Fire Marshal Remi Aubuchon. Remi joined the writing staff for the show's second season, the happy result of a snafu with the Rauschepfeifes and Rebecs for Ragamuffins program that saw him land on our office doorstep…
June 14, 2010: Swordspoint, by Ellen Kushner
Riverside is a slum, a rundown neighborhood of beggars and thieves, where danger looms when night falls and only the foolhardy dare to venture. The Hill is home to the rich and powerful, its opulent residences host to the excesses of privilege. Two seemingly antithetical districts of an unnamed city, their borders as conspicuous and…
June 13, 2010: World Cup Round-Up! Mailbag!
The World Cup is off to a brilliant start. Well, our World Cup office pool is anyway. Having seen such bold predictions as the South Africa/Mexico tie and England/USA tie come to fruition, I now lead the standings with 6 points. I'm looking to extend my lead tomorrow, banking on wins from Italy and Cameroon,…
June 12, 2010: Actress Julia Benson Answers Your Questions!
Exec. Producing Stargate: Universe is not unlike coaching an immensely talented sports franchise. You go in to each script - or game - confident in the talent you're working with, solid starters and a deep, deep bench that never lets you down. And, on many occasions, even though you're expecting them to excel, they still…
June 11, 2010: Help me decide what I’m doing this month! The Three Amigos drop by! Mailbag! And Incursion II, the SGU season finale airs tonight!
I've lived in Vancouver 11+ years, yet when it comes time to recommending fun activities for first-time visitors, I draw a blank. I don't ski, skate, hike, or bike, nor have I visited any of the city's major landmarks. I have attended the occasional festivals (so long as they were food-related) but I've rarely ventured…
June 10, 2010: Reasons I may be grumpy…
According to Ashleigh, I’ve been grumpy lately. Grumpy? Moi? Would you say I’ve been grumpy? Curt maybe. Possibly a little testy. But grumpy? Okay, admittedly I have been my usual happy-go-lucky self of late. I’d attributed it to that tricker-than-anticipated script rewrite (Finished today. Thanks for asking.) but, upon further reflection, realized it was a…
June 9, 2010: That infernal fifth act!
Today's game plan was to finish the rewrite of Resurgence. Yesterday, I got as far as the top of Act V before running out of steam. So, all I had to do was finish that final act. Seven measly pages. Well, the day is done and here I sit, staring at the top of Act…
June 8, 2010: Script rewrite! Model Shoot! And mailbag!
Today, I took a break from a heavier-than-expected script rewrite to take in that oft-rescheduled model shoot going on out back. Ivon Bartok on hand to capture it all for a future DVD special feature. Carl and co. come down to check out the on-set sandwiches. Setting the stage... I got more revealing pics and…
June 7, 2010: Production Update! Persons Unknown Premieres Tonight! Remi Aubuchon wants to hear from you!
Prep week for episode #10, Resurgence, kicked off today with a 9:00 a.m. concept meeting. Those in attendance included all department heads, Director Will Waring (yes, apparently he IS directing this one), my writing partner Paul (who sat in to get a sense of who will be where on that new set), and yours truly.…
June 6, 2010: Where’s the good pizza at? What the hell else is under that sink? Masked! And dogs!
Seriously, what does a guy got to do to get a good slice of pizza in Vancouver? Without leaving Vancouver? We tried a few places tonight. Our first stop is purported to be the best pizza in the city, Nat's Pizza, which serves a New York style version of the Italian staple. Unfortunately, the by-the-slice…
June 5, 2010: Working with John Scalzi! An Incursion-heavy mailbag!
Many of you have asked: "What is it like working with author John Scalzi?". Well, while I can tell you it's been both fun and informative, I can't really offer much in the way of details given the secretive nature of his work. As Stargate: Universe's Creative Consultant, John reads and weighs in on all…
June 4, 2010: My scheming assistant! World Cup fever! More seminal films from my youth! Upcoming projects! And Incursions airs tonight!
I think Ashleigh, our Executive Producer's Assistant, is plotting against me. I don't have any evidence to back this up outside of a sneaking suspicion, a personal hunch, and a presumption based on the uneasy sense of foreboding I experience every time I stroll by her office. She looks like she's up to something. Don't…
June 3, 2010: Seminal Films From My Youth! Do They Still Hold Up Today?
Off the top of my head. I'm sure there are a few I've missed. Would love to hear your entries. Do they still hold up? The Warriors (1979) Can you dig it? Caaan yooou diiiig it??! A recent conversation with fellow writer/producer Remi Aubuchon led me to check out this movie again, some thirty years…
June 2, 2010: Elyse Levesque Answers Your Questions!
It's finally here! That long-awaited Elyse Levesque Q&A you've all been asking about! Much thanks to the lovely Elyse for taking time out from her busy schedule (she has a job, y'know!) to answer our questions in very entertaining fashion. I'm pleased she was able to actually slow down long enough to field our queries.…
June 1, 2010: Battle Ice Cream – Round Two! Peanut Butter Crunch vs. Salted Butter Caramel! Chocolate Brownie vs. Double Chocolate!
Today marked the second and final round of the Stargate Ice Cream Throwdown pitting Writer/Director/Show Creator/Show Runner/Executive Producer Robert Cooper against Blogger/Orange Belt in Judo/High School Clarinet Player yours truly. As those of you who read yesterday's blog already know - which should be all of you - I was down after a (debatable, in…