Seriously, people. You've been warned. Proceed at your own risk. Well, coming off a one-day weekend to a work week packed with early morning meetings, late night cuts, set sitting, writing, rewrites, and phone calls, I'm running on low battery setting. Compounding the chaos was another one of those curveballs that forced us to scrap…
January 12, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 30 of 91! And naming the Android!
Back in October, I informed actress Zoie Palmer that the time had finally come. This season, we were going to give her character, the Android, a name. And a backstory. But, more importantly, a name. And so, the two of us got to work, pitching each other possible monikers via text over the course of three…
January 11, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 29 of 91!
What's this? Could I have finally given in and granted Jodelle Ferland's request for a shipboard mascot. Director of Photography test tastes the commissary offerings. Space beer! Laying some track for the commissary walk 'n talk. The masterful work of Dark Matter Production Designer Ian Brock and his teams - art and construction departments. The early…
January 10, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 28 of 91!
Director Steve DiMarco charges into his final days of production on Episode 303. Director of Photography Craig Wright mans the heavy machinery. Addressing the troops. Daenerys Riley Well, look who was in town on business - but took some time out for a little eating pleasure. If it isn't our old Stargate fellow writer-producer Carl Binder. In…
January 9, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 27 of 91! And dogs!
I think I'll take a little time while I'm waiting for my Episode 301 Producer's Cut WIP (Work In Progress) to land in my inbox to just go ahead and upload today's blog entry. I spent the day at the munitions factory with director Steve DiMarco, the cast, the crew, and my laptop. While they…
January 7, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 26 of 91!
Finally, the weekend is upon us! After consecutive grueling days on set shooting Episode 305, we got together Saturday and shot another day of same episode. And while I was at the munitions factory with director Steve DiMarco and co., the dogs were back home enjoying bath time (or in Suji's case, sink time). Behind…
January 6, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 25 of 91!
Today was long and late. I started off with first blocking in the munitions factory, then headed over to the production offices for a trifecta of meetings - art department, props, and background. Following a quick lunch, I jumped on two rewrites and completed the tease of my (second to last?) script of the season.…
January 5, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 24 of 91!
That 3D printer was one of the best investments the production ever made (not counting the 100k we sunk into tinder for dogs app). The latest creation was this Lenari Death Mask. Total build time: 21 hours. Chrome-finish version upcoming! As always, it's the little things...like these set accents designed by 1st Assistant Art Director…
January 4, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 23 of 91!
Wow! I can't believe how quickly this first week is going by. Only two more days of work and then it's the weekend! And one more day of work since we'll be shooting this Saturday as well. While Co-Executive Producer Ivon Bartok was braving chilly Hamilton with director Steve DiMarco, I was in the relatively…
December 21, 2016: Hepburn comes through again!
A shout-out today to one of Dark Matter's unsung heroes heroines, script coordinator Alison Hepburn who came through, yet again, with a terrific backstory idea for the show's third season. Alison has a great scifi mind and she has become my go-to-gal whenever I'm looking to spin ideas - or in need of one. Like, for instance,…
December 19, 2016: It can’t get any better than this!
I started my writing career in animation, After several years of freelancing, I landed a full time job as the Manager of Animation Development at a local studio in Montreal. My 9 to 5 duties covered all aspects of the internal creative and, over the course of my time there, I developed such shows as Animal…
December 18, 2016: Suji and Secrets!
In a matter of days, we'll be in Montreal and my mother's house will come alive with the pitter patter of little paws - roughly thirty-two in all not counting the feline variety. In preparation, we're shopping, gift-wrapping, packing, and bathing... Suji deserved the spa treatment after a thoroughly exhausting afternoon at Trinity Bellwoods Park…
December 16, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 21 of 91!
And that's a wrap on Dark Matter 2016! We capped off production with a tri-episode three director extravaganza. Steve DiMarco kicked things off with a pursuit through ethereal environs. But who's chasing who? The answers will shock. Then it was John Stead getting the last few scenes from our season 3 opener. And, finally, Bruce McDonald completed…
December 15, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 20 of 91!
"Motorists should consider postponing non-essential travel..." Is going home considered non-essential? Should be interesting. We have a little over an hour before wrap and waze is already telling me it's going to take me a while to get home. A while that's going to get even whilier as the snowstorm continues to rage. Melissa is…
December 14, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 19 of 91!
I was awakened at 5 a.m. this morning by what sounded like Akemi vacuuming downstairs. That's because Akemi WAS vacuuming downstairs. At 5 a.m. this morning! I'm not sure how they do things in Japan, but here in Canada... Toronto's in the deep freeze - and it's just going to get colder. Today, our tech…