"Come on, Alex. What would Bruce Lee do? Make it awesome!" - Actor Alex Mallari Jr., all mic'd up in preparation for another big training room sequence. Dark Matter Episode #107, Day 2. More often than not, whenever we seek out Alex's character, FOUR, we usually find him training. Originally, I envisioned him working with swords…
March 15, 2015: A trip to the post office! Mailbag! Stargate! Dark Matter! And Cloverblob!
"Girls who like Cinderella have nightmare marriage. Statistics show. It's data!" - Akemi today, on our walk back home from lunch. I guess it makes sense. Today also saw us visit the post office so that Akemi could sense her dad a chocolate shipment. Apparently, his stock is running low. Of course no overseas shipment…
March 14, 2015: The end draws near! That’s my final Dark Matter first draft!
Holy crap! Just finished my first draft of episode #113, the big season finale. It comes in at a robust 57 pages and it is tremendous fun! Twist after turn after surprise leading to the final shocker that will positively blow your minds. Back when I first started developing the show, the show evolved around…
March 13, 2015: Seething…working…entertaining…celebrating!
Ever get one of those morning phone calls that annoys you so thoroughly that is sours your mood for the rest of the day? I received one of those this a.m. and it irritated me to no end. BUT then, happily, I got distracted with work - a visual effects spotting session, a second unit…
March 12, 2015: Dark Matter second unit madness! We visit Eridani 6!
Today was a torrid writing day. Not so coincidentally, it was a day that saw me driving around a lot and, as many of you know, I do some of my best writing while driving, showering, or whenever someone I'm having dinner with is talking to me. The day saw me blow through 11+ pages,…
March 11, 2015: Intergalactic pet shipping, CG skin and Hong Kong dust!
Ship your pet via Intergalactic Express! Planet to Planet service! (video compliments of Kelly Diamond) While Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok and VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson were on set with Director Ron Murphy and the rest of the gang, shooting in the Palace and eating breakfast lasagna, I was back on the home front (and by…
March 10, 2015: To Do! Introducing A Camera Dolly Grip Joe Strazzeri!
Pictured above: my growing To Do list. It's always great having a fellow foodie on set. Even better if that fellow foodie is also an accomplished cook just brimming with awesome recipes and culinary secrets. Such is the case with the indomnitable Joe Strazzeri - bon vivant, culinary composer, and, oh yeah!, A Camera Dolly…
March 9, 2015: Kitchen requests! Ron on a roll! And introducing Matti “Two Guns” Huhta!
The Dark Matter production office kitchen is fairly well-stocked, offering everything from iced tea and mini cinnamon rolls to boxes of seaweed chips. Sadly, the one thing they didn't have today was the one thing I was looking for - club soda. And so, I went to the big whiteboard to write in my ask.…
March 8, 2015: A familiar face checks in! And introducing Dark Matter Director of Photography Craig Wright!
Well, look who it is. Yes, that's director Andy Mikita (you may know him from such shows as Stargate: SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, and Stargate: Universe) flashing the Dark Matter trade paperback. What's the deal? A little recreational reading? Perhaps some professional research in advance of an upcoming gig? Well, I suppose we'll all find out soon enough. A member…
March 7, 2015: Dark Matter EPK Day!
From now on, whenever someone requests a photo of me to accompany an interview or some newspaper article ("Local Producer Unwittingly Consumes Ornamental Headdress") THIS is the one they're getting. Akemi snapped it during today's EPK (Electronic Press Kit) Day. Director T.J. Scott, his photographer, and the gang from SyFy were on hand to photograph…
March 6, 2015: Akemi’s Most Dezastro Day! The Dark Matter episode #107 props meeting is in the books!
I received the following text message from Akemi today: "Why?"I asked. She replied with the following photo: Then this one: And, finally, THIS one: Why is Jelly sitting in her water bowl? The episode #107 props meeting happened today. Check out all the goodies. Director Bruce McDonald takes Bubba for a spin. This is…
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…
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,…
March 3, 2015: Things are about to get crazy. Er.
I was up into the wee hours of this morning, watching and preparing notes for the director's cut of episode #104 - and writing a scene for this week's schedule. And it looks like I'll be up into the wee hours of tomorrow morning, watching and preparing notes for the prod cut of episode #103…
March 2, 2015: Lee Rose! Caitlin’s new do! The #104 director’s cut! And socks!
Director Lee Rose calling the shots on the ISS Far Horizon. Hey, with all this talk about socks of late, I've really been remiss in not displaying actress Jodelle Ferland's unique sock sense - on display at last night's Walking Dead soiree: Speaking of socks. Natalie informs me I've also been remiss in not posting…