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…
October 20, 2014: Early prep on Dark Matter begins!
Okay. I may not love where I'm presently living and I may hate the weather and the Toronto traffic but, boy, am I looking forward to production on Dark Matter's first season. Yes, of course I'm thrilled that I'm about to start prep on my very own show, but experience has taught me that, at the…
October 17, 2014: Prepping for the Toronto move! And a modest mailbag!
That's it. We're out of time. Ready or not, we are on a plane and Toronto-bound tomorrow morning. I'm super anxious about flying with the dogs - but have done my best to prepare them for the four and half hour in-cabin flight. I spent an hour on the phone with Air Canada, making the…
October 16, 2014: Dark Matter! Casting! The Ramp-up! Oh, and my birthday!
So now that it's official, I can finally talk about my new show, Dark Matter, and my plans for the series and this blog in the lead-up to season premiere (sometime in 2015). As most of you know, while I was working on Stargate this blog offered fans a peak at the inner workings of the…
October 15, 2014: Dark Matter!
Big news! I'm not crazy after all - http://tvline.com/2014/10/15/syfy-acquires-dark-matter-graphic-novel-adaptation/ http://www.gateworld.net/news/2014/10/stargate-producers-bring-dark-matter-to-syfy/ So I DIDN'T imagine the whole thing. Unless, of course, this is also part of my elaborate, ongoing hallucination and those url's actually link to the live cam of a cat hotel in Cornwall. But, just in case, I'd like to thank a few of the…
October 11, 2014: Cookie Monster reviews Kick Ass 2!
Watching dis movie be like getting together wit former girlfriend after several years. You tink it be a great idea but, when show up for date, you diskover she really let herself go, embittered wit life, and spend most of evening telling tasteless jokes and trying to sell you on Amway. At end of de…
October 8, 2014: Another day, another round of meetings! Fielding some of your questions!
Today, we interviewed some great Directors of Photography, talked cameras, shooting style, pre-lighting, then sat down with our stunt coordinator and discussed how our characters' varied personalities are displayed in their respective fighting styles. After lunch, we visited the art department where the gang had a bunch of goodies awaiting our perusal: designs of the…
October 6, 2014: Prep Meetings! Twin Peaks Returns?
I'm exhausted. I slept fitfully last night because of the time change and then woke up at the crack of dawn - because the morning sun shines unobstructed through a blind-free section of my patio window. Fortunately, the meetings were plenty interesting enough to keep me wide awake throughout the afternoon. We started off with…
September 27, 2014: My Favorite Movies By Genre!
These are mine... ACTION ADVENTURE ANIMATION COMEDY CRIME DRAMA FANTASY HORROR SCIENCE FICTION (tie) SUPERHERO THRILLER WAR (tie) WESTERN Tag! You're it!
September 24, 2014: October fast approaches!
I can't believe September is almost done and, in a few weeks, I'll be making the BIG move to Toronto - just in time for what's predicted to be (and I quote) "the T-Rex of winters" (http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/t-rex-of-winters-in-store-for-canada-old-farmer-s-almanac-1.2012804#). Of course, I'll be spending most of it on a nice, cozy spaceship set. Or, in a nice,…
September 4, 2014: The Game Plan!
Today, I completed a first draft of episode #12 in which the various arcs we develop over the course of the show's first season converge in a story about identity, loyalty, and friendship, culminating in a shocking conclusion that sets the stage for an even more shocking finale. It joins my first draft of episode…
August 29, 2014: Tickticktick!!!
Holy crap! I've have less than a month to prepare for my move to Toronto! I've got all next week, then about a week or so after I get back from Japan to get all my affairs in order. To quote comic strip heroine Cathy actor David Blue: "Ack!". The production will probably take me into June…
August 26, 2014: My Top 10 Most Shocking T.V. Deaths!
I say "My Top 10" because "Your Top 10" will no doubt vary. Having read the Ice & Fire series before sitting down to watch Game of Thrones, I was prepared for moments like Ned Stark's execution, The Red Wedding, and the duel between The Mountain and The Red Viper. Similarly, behind-the-scenes developments on other shows…
August 25, 2014: Uh oh!
Production has a way of sneaking up on you. One second you're spinning stories for your first season and, the next, you're boarding a plane for Toronto to oversee construction of those spaceship and space station sets. I recently received a copy of our prep schedule and it looks like we're officially underway roughly a…