Today, Paul and I sat down with fellow Dark Matter Executive Producer (and President of Prodigy Pictures) Jay Firestone for a marathon notes session. Well, it was only three scripts, so not so much a marathon as it was, say, a 5k sustained jog through episodes #101 through #103. And, I'm pleased to report, a good time was…
November 17, 2014: Welcome to the gun (sword and miscellaneous weapons) show!
My writing partner, Paul, got in yesterday for what should be a big week. We've got budget meetings tomorrow, script meetings with Jay Tuesday and Wednesday, and a whirlwind trip to the SyFy offices in New York that will see us flying out early Friday morning and flying back later that night. Today, we sat…
November 11, 2014: Dark Matter prep continues! Ever closer on the casting! We’re scriptwriting machines! The ship is taking shape!
Two down, one to go. The Toronto and Vancouver second round casting sessions are in the books and only the L.A. session remains. Be Vanessa and I won't be able to attend, we're going to live stream it to the production offices. Theoretically anyway. I imagine it'll be sort of like those interactive video conferences…
November 6, 2014: Talking Dark Matter with WatchPlayRead! Construction continues apace!
My first Dark Matter (the t.v. series!) interview is in the books. Head on over to WatchPlayRead.com for my chat with Ryan Thomason in which I discuss casting challenges, the various Stargate-Dark Matter connections, and the prospect of pug cameos: http://watchplayread.com/wpr-talks-joseph-mallozzi-creator-syfys-new-series-dark-matter/ "I’ve always found it difficult to draw side by side comparisons between shows. If anything, I’d say our series…
November 4, 2014: Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown – unless the Art Department meeting runs late in which case it rests just fine on the table while you take a little nappy!
Check out the cool slot box label outside my office door. "Executive Producer" would have been fine, but they went ahead and included "Showrunner" - which is nice, but I would've preferred "The Commodore". In fact, that's how I'd like to be referred to moving forward. It wasn't my first choice, but Natalie Cooper already…
November 3, 2014: Well, look who it is! And weekend remnants!
Well look who started work at the Dark Matter production offices today. It's none other than Trevor Finn! Blog regulars know that my working relationship with Trevor goes way back. From his humble beginnings as Associate in Charge of Draining My Pet Baboon's Anal Glands to Story Editor/Script Coordinator - he's come a long way, baby. Trevor…
October 30, 2014: Introducing Kim Morrison! Construction continues! Building the bridge!
She's like a shadow in the night - dark, mysterious, silent and stealthy. One second she's there, the next she's gone. Then, she's sitting behind you, sipping her coffee! I've never seen her come or go and yet, somehow, whenever I turn a corner, she'a there - appearing as if by magic. Her name is Kim…
October 29, 2014: Dark Matter Pre-Production! Set construction begins!
After a seemingly endless wait for the show to get green the light, we're now charging full speed ahead toward our January production dates. This week, construction began on our standing sets. First up, our ship, The Raza, which will include the bridge, corridors, an infirmary, mess hall, training room, various corridors and airlocks. The…
October 28, 2014: Introducing Caitlin Brown!
"So what does Caitlin do?"I asked as part of my first day bid to know absolutely everything about absolutely everyone. "She's Head of Business Affairs,"I was told. "No, really." "Really." Really? Caitlin Brown was one of the very first people I'd met. She'd come into my office and chatted about film, television, and books (she's…
October 27, 2014: Introducing Elliot Sokolsky!
Remember the character of Radar O'Reilly in M*A*S*H*? Not the later naive Iowa farm boy he turned into, but the astute and wily operator we're initially introduced to - the clever contriver who could always manage to get his hands on the most elusive of items: chocolates, meds, a jeep. If you needed something, Radar…
October 25, 2014: Casting Dark Matter!
The six-person crew of a derelict spaceship awakens from stasis in the farthest reaches of space. Their memories wiped clean, they have no recollection of who they are or how they go on board. The only clue to their identities is a cargo bay full of weaponry and a destination: a remote mining colony that…
October 24, 2014: Introducing Natalie Cooper!
Anyone will tell you that the toughest thing about starting a new productions isn't the casting or the scriptwriting or ensuring that it all falls within the allotted budget. No, the toughest thing about starting a new production is remembering everyone's name. It's a problem that plagued me my many years on Stargate. My writing…
October 23, 2014: Introducing Alison Hepburn!
Now when most people hear we have an Executive Producers' Assistant on a production, they'll invariably ask: "What the hell do you need an assistant for?". Well, the obvious answer is: "Everything." Once we roll into prep, production, and post, Executive Producers like me are far too busy to deal with certain aspects of…
October 22, 2014: Introducing Vanessa Piazza!
Production on Dark Matter will be uniquely challenging for a number of reasons, not the least of which being the fact that my long-time writing and producing partner, Paul, won't be making the move to Toronto to show run the series with me. Instead, he'll come down for a week of meetings in November, return for prep…
October 21, 2014: Introducing Jay Firestone! Notes! And carpet heaven!
As we head into prep on the first season of Dark Matter, I thought it might be nice to introduce you to some of the people who work behind the scenes to bring you (what will no doubt become) your new favorite new scifi series. Now people have often asked me: "Joe, what does a producer…