Today, I spent time on three different units. Woke up at 6:00 a.m., took the loooong drive to Hamilton for 8:30 a.m. call on not one but TWO second unit shoots (Director Ron Murphy on those owing barn scenes from episode #106, and Director Bruce McDonald on those final few farm house scenes for episode…
March 24, 2015: Zoie Palmer nails it! The Android roll-out continues! Introducing Post Production Producer Rachel Sutherland!
Last up tonight was the extra scene I wrote for episode #107. Whenever I write one of these, it invariably ends up being an Android scene because the character is so damn fun to write for - because Zoie Palmer is so damn good at playing her. This one was a particularly tricky corridor encounter…
March 23, 2015: Our weekly Walking Dead soiree! Eclairs and equally tasty tidbits and teasers from our production meeting!
Last night, the gang convened for our second to last Walking Dead night of the season (Next up: Game of Thrones!). In attendance: actor Roger Cross (SIX), actress Jodelle Ferland (FIVE), and VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft -Wilson. We missed last week's instalment so it was a double-header night. We were all on the edge of…
March 22, 2015: Dark Chatter – The Aftershow! Behind the scenes on Dark Matter!
Thanks for the plumbing advice. I really should have consulted with you all from the start. A half dozen frenzied jams of a handy plunger and the blockage was instantly dislodged, allowing the trapped water to finally run free - and right through the hole I put in the pipe with that coat hanger. If this…
March 19, 2015: Introducing Dark Matter Set P.A. Mackenzie Lawrence! Help support her webisode pilot, Press Pause! Dark Matter teaser pics!
Her name is Mackenzie Lawrence but I just call her Happy because, well, she always is. Smiling. Singing. Dancing. Even after her recent bout with that flu-like bug that was going around, she was back on set, greeting me with her trademark cheer. She is, without a doubt, one of the most upbeat, exuberant, positive…
March 18, 2015: We’ve passed the halfway mark of production on Dark Matter’s first season! Introducing A Camera Operator Dino Laurenza!
A meeting of minds this morning as Director Ron Murphy shot as scene for episode #106, then handed off the bridge to Director Bruce McDonald for episode #107. The shipboard action got heated today in a frantic race against time - while our special guest star reached an understanding with our Android (Zoie Palmer). Tomorrow,…
March 17, 2015: Introducing Dark Matter Costume Designer Noreen Landry and the Dark Matter Costume Department!
Another whirlwind day! Wrote three new scenes, rewrote another, attended a few prep meetings for episode #108 with director T.W. Peacocke, and dropped by set to watch our awesome special guest star kick ass - and look absolutely stunning doing it. Tomorrow, we hit the bridge for more fiery antics. P.S. I have no doubt…
March 16, 2015: Alex Mallari Jr.! Jamaican patties! Socks (the wearing kind)! Socks (the hitting kind)! And that new Android scene!
"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.…