Director Bruce McDonald serves up madness, mayhem, and remaindered produce. The crew on recycling duty. One prisoner's trash is another's treasure. You never know what you're going to find... From the inside looking up. A rare shot of yours truly in action compliments of Alyssa Pawlak. A spooky walking tour of the Hyperion-8 set: Today's…
January 12, 2016: Dark Matter and doggy doings!
Anthony Lemke (THREE) and director Bruce McDonald discuss tattoos and such between set-ups. Is it possible to have any more fun on set? Bruce sets up his first shot of the day. A meeting of the minds. Meanwhile, back on the home front, the dogs express their delight for their winter wear... He's saying: "Noooooooooo!"
January 11, 2016: Mayhem! New sets! Flaccid chicken!
We tried out a new caterer today. On the menu: flaccid boiled chicken, dressing-free salad, and fat slices of disquietingly gooey eggplant parm topped with cold cheese. Mmmmm. There were a lot of crew members ordering pizza this afternoon. In retrospect, I suppose it was apropos. Prison food for our prison set... Today, stunt coordinator…
January 10, 2016: A rare rest day!
Today was the calm in the eye of the hurricane, that brief respite before the inevitable storm that will be tomorrow's BIG extended action sequence. When I said that this was our most ambitious episode to date, I was, for the most part, referring to THIS particular scene. Can't wait to see stunt coordinator John…
January 9, 2016: Saturday in space!
Wow. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather spend a Saturday than in outer space with the Dark Matter crew... Up and at 'em! Director Bruce McDonald contemplates an orange prior to blocking our first scene in Alicia Reynaud's office. Alicia who? Check out Dark Matter season 2 (summer of 2016) and find out! First shot of the…
January 8, 2016: Up and at ’em! Dark Matter in production!
In a perfect world, I'd be sleeping peacefully away like those two pictured above (Look at them! They get to actually sleep on set instead of pretending they're simply "deep in thought" which is MY go-to) , but until they finish fine-tuning that teleportation technology I've been anxiously awaiting (for going on thirty years now),…
January 7, 2016: Dark Matter media day!
Selfie with Susanne Döpke (Geek Magazine), Marietta Steinhart (DIE ZEIT), and Mirsad Halilovic (NBCU) who flew in today to talk Dark Matter and take in the super secret on-set action. Between set-ups, I got to sit down and talk season 2 plans, guest stars, and schnitzel! I had a great time. Miss you guys already! Beware of co-workers…
January 6, 2016: Dark Matter Season 2, Episode 202, Day 4!
Today was all about the Android. Between set-ups, I finally got a chance to sit down with actress Zoie Palmer and take her through our plans for the Android in season 2. We discussed the surprising encounter in Episode 204, the wildly atypical happenings in Episode 205, and those late-season developments and payoffs (plus much…
January 5, 2016: Dark Matter season 2! Episode 202! Day 3!
Today, we were back on Hyperion-8 for our third day of main unit. On the docket: Inserts owing of the "flash" The lipstick acquisition A deal is struck/A plan is hatched A complication leads to an improvisation (that will, in turn, lead to another complication - which will, again, lead to another improvisation) The ladies…
January 4, 2016: Back on set! Dark Matter Season 2!
We were back on set today for Day #2 of Dark Matter Episode 202. Normally, a 5:20 a.m. wake-up compounded by a thirty minute work-out would have had me nice and tired and ready for bed - at around 2:00 p.m. Luckily, consulting producer Ivon Bartok was packing his GreensPlus. A single shot was enough natural caffeine…
January 1, 2016: Resolutions and reading recommendations!
During my first year on Stargate, I put on fifteen pounds (The Freshman Fifteen!). I blame mostly the fantastic catering - Steve's terrific cooking and Anthea's extraordinary desserts. At one point, we were producing two shows (SG-1 and Atlantis) and that meant TWO catering options. Then script coordinator Lawren Bancroft-Wilson would scout out the trucks and report back…
December 18, 2015: Dark Matter! Last day of production – for 2015!
And...that's a wrap on Dark Matter 2015! Just in time too as I simply cannot spare another Saturday what with the holidays on deck. I have banking to do, presents to pick up, and dog harnesses to buy before our Monday morning road trip to Montreal. It's hard to believe that, same time last year, I was…
December 17, 2015: Dark Matter production! And the return of Cat T-Shirt Thursday!
The onscreen greeting awaiting us in Warden Treihan's office on Hyperion-8! Playback mayhem courtesy of this man, Dark Matter playback operator Patch Whiteside. Cat T-Shirt Thursday returns! Best Boy Andy Gondek partakes in the grand tradition. As does 1st Assistant Camera Marcel Janisse. And stand-in Alyssa Pawlak. 10 Shows to Binge Watch Over the Holidays. Check out #7:…
December 16, 2015: Dark Matter season 2 is going to be epic!
Only two more days to go on Amanda Tapping's directing tour-de-force and I miss her already. She's is going to deliver one hell of a second season premiere episode and, quite frankly, it's bittersweet. Sweet because it's sooooo damn good and will cause many heads to explode. Bitter because you'll have to wait until summer of…
December 15, 2015: Dark Matter Episode 201! Production continues!
It's hard to believe, but we're looking at only three more days of production on Episode 201 before we break for holiday hiatus. Director Amanda Tapping has been all-systems-go and is set to deliver one hell of a season premiere. With an assist from stunt coordinator John Stead, today's on-set action was simply...Wow! Tomorrow, it's…