“Just because you’ve never done something doesn’t mean you can’t compete at a professional level.”
— Me to Akemi last night when she heard there was some archery competition going on this weekend.
Dark Matter mementos? Maybe.
I have suggested to Prodigy Pictures that, if and when they decide to do away with the Dark Matter props, costumes, and set pieces, they do so by making them available for online auction instead of simply holding a private industry sale. While it would require a little more planning, I think it would be a nice gesture to the fans who have supported the show these three years.
Will keep you posted on that front.
So, yesterday I posted pics of our final trek through our second stage at Evans. Today, I present you with our certainly not final visit to our primary stage where reside, amongst other things: Costumes! Props! The Raza! And, of course, my office with all that Dark Matter Whisky Club whisky!
The whiteboard in my office. Melissa O’Neil compliments my brain babies. Development exec Natalie Cooper’s To-Do list. VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson tacks on that little item at the end. Accompanying artwork by Akemi.
More impressive than the 39 episodes of television we produced was this collection of approximately 50 empty whisky bottles.
Executive Producer Ivon Bartok and I caught raiding the Raza infirmary’s meds supply.
We apprehend Dark Matter Playback Operator Greg Whiteside before forcefully removing him from the premises. Everything must go!
Strategizing our next lunch move.
View of the mess hall. Missing: triptych. Also, everything else.
Other view of the mess hall. Missing: the mess hall table and, um, the floor.
Ivon, Dark Matter Costume Designer Noreen Landry, and I.
The Dark Matter costume department. All the wardrobe and equipment are gone now. The only thing left behind are those amusing dog-themed pictures.
Ivon captioned this: Alex Mallari Jr.’s stunt double. And I felt the need to point out that I had to go half speed when we sparred because I didn’t want him to get hurt
Fun time’s over. Now let’s go quell a riot.
Guys, come on. One more tour of The Raza set.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing 67% of your dream fully realized!
Come, join us on the bridge.
Ivon contemplates life after Dark Matter.
Come on. Who could say no to this face?
Okay, syfy, yes. But who else?
Ah, fuck it. I aint going anywhere.
Some shows have characters you like others people you fall in love with as their character grows. Thank you for the opportunity to fall in love with the crew of the Raza.
“Ah, fuck it. I aint going anywhere.” LETS HOPE NOT !!!
I believe the word is ‘strategery’. (“Strategizing our next lunch move.”)
ok and what does that mean?
Joe. more than happy to help with the prop and costume idea if you so choose to do something out of the box!
Good afternoon Joseph,
Are you still responding to comments? If so, I will submit my comment pending your reply. While it may seem like a poor strategy to wait for you to reply ‘Yes/No’ to then only submit my comment…but I didn’t think too much into it, so kindly please standby for my comment–it will be worth it.
ARCHERY
Now there’s a word I wasn’t expecting!
You both should have a go … It’s brilliant fun and a most gratifying way of relieving stress. I’ve been single handedly ‘taking down’ syfy execs all week with my trusty Welsh/English longbow 😁
You could always try out the more Zen form of Kyudo Archery …
Archery – yes!
Field archery and recurve bow is my weapon of choice 👍
Love Field Archery!
Have you tried Shooting the Marks? Very, very long field archery – similar to a Clout 🎯
I loved your pictures and their captions. Also, Akemi looks great in black!
Are any of the cast/crew being snatched up by other shows?
Those pictures are a real emotional roller coaster. Just fun times and now such.. not fun times. I remember that white board from when you posted a pic of it ages ago!
“Aw, fuck it. I ain’t going anywhere.” – that’s the spirit! Now we need to tell that to SYFY.
Hmh. Just my crappy luck of being an inch taller than Alex and an inch shorter than Anthony.
A bitter sweet collection of photos that are also mesmerizing, at the same time.
Again, big thanks for sharing, Joe 🙂
Following you through the deconstruction process is really helping me cope with the news. It’s letting me slowly digest the loss instead of ripping the whole world out from the roots in my imagination. It’s a good feeling to see creative ideas made flesh. You deserved more than 67%, but still magnificent. The genuine smiles, whiteboard commentary, and dog memes reflect the quality of environment you had on this team. Not all such production spots have that warmth, I’m sure it made hard work fun work. I’m grateful that you take the time to write this blog. I hope when the time comes Prodigy is thoughtful to your fan auction suggestions. Part of me also hopes a private auction retains enough core product to make a future reserection easier and provides Prodigy with capital to let them know there was real value in this adventure. You are keeping me from crying so much as I work on acceptance that some things just end even when you’re not ready for them.
P.S. Yeah only heartless bastards so no to Ivan.
Noreeeeeeen!!!!!!
ur…, um…, I mean…, Ms.Noreen Landry!
So, this 26th September thing …
I woke up early morning September 26th (UK time) and opened your ‘gift’ of a Dark Matter script. Thank you! (It was my Birthday after all 😊).
Then that same evening, I read your blog dated 26th September referring to the deconstruction of the Dark Matter second stage sets with sadness. I thought how ironic is was as the year before (September 26th!) was the Season 2 cliffhanger finale (in the UK) but all was fine and dandy, as Dark Matter had already got the green light for Season 3.
So today I come across your 26th Sept blog entry and the ‘not final visit’ to the primary stage.
… Isn’t this all a paradox?
I hope you get a birthday present of a season 4 on Sep. 26th 2018! Afterall we have a Cornish Android on our side!!
😁
So, my evil little mind came up with an idea after Joe said fuck it, that he ain’t going anywhere. Okay, maybe a bit far fetched and late now, but us Toronto and surrounding area folks, why didn’t we do a friendly sit-in outside of the studios to show the physical side of Dark Matter fan/friends. As usual, I’m two steps behind the ball with these ideas. I’m sorry Joe, this whole cancellation wreaks of corporate greed. Big hugs🤗
I was somewhat disturbed by those 50 empty bottles of whiskey I passed every time I visited the accountants, mainly because I was never offered a drop ( I’m over it now :-). All the best Joe for your future endeavors/hit shows, what a great group from producers to the crew.
“I was somewhat disturbed by those 50 empty bottles of whiskey I passed every time I visited the accountants, mainly because I was never offered a drop ( I’m over it now :-). All the best Joe for your future endeavors/hit shows, what a great group from producers to the crew.”
Hey, Susan, you should have come up for the wolf howl. Next show?
Ok next project ..How its working ?I guest you have to submit a sketch to networks and if they say a cool you have a go ..then you start sets and filming..What if you submit a new one Call the RaZa than included unfinished story telling in it…like right in heart of the aliens invasion and so on ..your thoughts?
And ask for a 3 seasons
>Ah, fuck it. I aint going anywhere.
There ya go.
Brilliant
Thanks for the pics joe. So sad to see it coming down though.havent even looked at syfy tv guide never mind turn it on since the news. Syfuckers.
“Now let’s go quell a riot.”
You will be wearing that protective gear when you go to the archery range, won’t you?
That grey hair didn’t develop over the last three weeks I hope?
All the best!
Thanks so much for sharing all of this Joe…. I can only imagine what you and everyone else involved with producing the show (well… everyone EXCEPT any SyFy execs…. to use some of your words…. Fuck em!!) must be going through. Loved the pic of all the empty Whiskey bottles! Didn’t see my favourite sadly… in case you haven’t tried it, give it a shot – Canadian Club Small Batch… real smooth!!! But wow… more empty bottles than shows…. does that explain all the creativity??? Lol!
I wish the Raza set could stay up forever…. would be nice to tour it in person…but alas… tis not to be I guess…. sigh…
You are all great and thank you for bringing us this quality show!! I will be part of any further fan campaigns for Dark Matter!!
I can’t imagine anyone with a soul walking through whats left of the sets and not feeling sad. No one likes it when the end comes.
Auction is a great idea!!!!
I know you have heard this before but I can’t help myself, I want DARK MATTER BACK !!!
Me too!!!!!
This fucking makes me sick that nobody else saw what an enormous potential this show had. It easily could have been another SG franchise and gone on for years.
Huh.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/netflix-canadian-content-broadcaster-1.4309381
I agree with Daphne Dolphin. Seeing the deconstruction helps with the transition. Sometimes we lose a tv show we’ve come to love and it’s just gone. Thank you for the pics. Glad you’re not going anywhere. If only stubbornness could keep DM on the air. 😉
It alway amazes me when I see the sets from my shows and realize that they aren’t actual ships or ports or in this cast The Raza. You guys make magic and have the best job in the world.
All my adoration!!
Tracey
I just can’t…. This is breaking my heart. But I do thank you for these pictures. I agree it is almost like that last episode of SGU. This is a way for the fans to let go slowly as well.
Gotta run. Go the BIG PROJECT to work on for Friday.
Speaking of amusing dog-themed pictures, did you ever post the season 3 answers?
Thanks so much for posting these break down pics. Of course it’s sad, but it does offer some closure.
And thanks for suggesting the props auction to Prodigy! I’d love to add some DM pieces to my SG1 collection. I’ve got an Apophis crate marker, and that framed piece of the original canvas Iris. And the Celebration of 10 Years book signed by you and Claudia Black. So yeah, I would be very interested.
And Akemi still has her FIVE hair! Very cool. 😁
An auction – woohoo.
All the photos and captions are great.
Team Raza ain’t going anywhere either!
Eh…..How tall IS Ivon? 🤔
Kind of like closing the door on some very happy memories, but I have to believe there’s more in store…
I can’t wait to see where you take us next, Joe!
Still processing the cancellation and all else, just… Stupid! -_- These pics don’t help… though, they are amusing. 😀
So I been out of loop for a bit, but I take it that all hope is now gone and there will be no 11th hour rescue of the show?
This deeply saddens me. Especially when I see the kinda crap syfy let’s run forever. But they are every great sci-fi show long before its time.
No wonder they changed from sci-fi to syfy they don’t even know how to spell it, let alone whay it is supposed to look like.
Well I am starting my own collection of 50 empty bottles of liquor right now , but doubt it is enough to drown my sorrow.
Dark Matter quickly became my favourite show for the characters and writing, I can’t think of another current sci go series in which the characters haf such loyalty and togetherness which in turn led to many good story lines. If I find the SyFy exec that pulled the plug on DM
*continues to cry*
What that fuck, that show is great , what is wrong with the syfy executive people, I love that show, I can’t believe it, what happens? I can articulate any thought , sorry about the bad word, is anything we can do about to stop this? I mean as a fan , is this the final word? I got to go i can’t see this, good bye raza crews, and actors you were great.
I’m going 2 miss this show. I really loved it the Android was my favourite but I loved all the characters for their uniqueness. I look at other shows & wonder how the helll there still going. Syfy decided that Dark Matter has 2 go I don’t understand their thinking behind this. If there’s anything from Dark Mayter being sent out I would love anything at all the but especiall the alelaque little guitar.
Please don’t let this show die!!!
Dear Noreen, I love your costume magic, and if I’d known there was a chance I could win them at auction I would not have eaten quite so many raspberry tarts this year. I will be coveting each and every auction item, I think I’d like one of those prison mess hall trays, they were sooo shiny. I’ll be happy if I can get a Raza spoon. Do I have room on my wall for giant gun? I think so, and my sock draw has been missing a few Ishida sabres.
Thanks for the great pics Joe, and Ivon is standing right there so quick, grab his liver!
Please tell me that you’re going to keep all those dog pictures from the costume room! Don’t let anyone throw those away. 🙂
I love watching dark matter so do others.I want dark matter 4 please
I don’t want to see this series end. This was one of the few reasons I started watching Sci-fi channel again. They did the same thing with Farscape. I’ve now taken to watching all three seasons on Netflix… Thanks for all you given your fans!
I don’t want to see this series end. This was one of the few reasons I started watching Sci-fi channel again. They did the same thing with Farscape. I’ve now taken to watching all three seasons on Netflix… Thanks for all you given your fans!
Hey Joe, do you have any connections to upcoming Stargate Origins? If so, what can you tell us about it? If not, are you free to tell us any juicy tidbits of info about Origins, or the franchise in general? Also if not, would you want to be involved?
Hey . In the spirit of Fire Fly .. How about fans invest in what we want… ???? Dark Matter has all the elements and will always have a fan base.
Loved the show. Why is it every time a good show comes along someone gets a wild hair up their ass and wants to end something good.
f*kin awesome.
I’m going to miss DM. At least we have the DVD’s and streaming – and your blog 🙂 I look forward to your next project.
Thank you for an absolutely wonderful show!!!! I am so looking forward to your next project…not to say that I too was hoping someone would finally “WAKE-UP!!!” and fix this very unfortunate and unnecessary situation. Wonderful writing, wonderful cast, amazing show with such an amazing representation of diversity and true potential of humans as well as androids :-). Thank you again.
I love this show!!! It must continue‼️