It looks like I will be in San Diego for Comic Con, signing copies of my SF comic book series, Dark Matter, at the Dark Horse booth (conveniently located steps away from where former Stargate scribe Remi Aubuchon will be overseeing the action at the Falling Skies booth). I'll have the space for about an hour…
May 29, 2012: The Bullshititude of Creative Writing Classes!
I know, I know. It's not what you want to hear. Eager young writers would love to know that there's somewhere they can go, someone they can pay money, to become a better writer. Well, the sad truth is that no one but you can make you a better writer. Actually, hang on. Back up…
May 19, 2012: Amateur Blogging Made Difficult: My Top Ten Tips for the Online Personal Journalerer. Er.
So, despite having done this for over five years now, I apparently break all the fundamental rules of successful blogging. I don't market my blog, make money off it through advertising, stick to a single niche or dedicated theme, and, perhaps worst of all, do not limit myself to the recommended weekly entry. Instead, my…
May 16, 2012: A Major Mailbag! Includes: The scoop on the Dark Matter trade paperback! T.V. thoughts! And where I would like to see the Stargate: Universe movie go!
Well, last night I received a call from my writing partner, Paul. It was the call I suspected and expected and altogether dreaded. He was a couple of days into his pass on the first four acts I'd written and, while things were going well, they were also progressing slowly. "I don' t know what…
May 12, 2012: 2 Acts down, 14 to go! And why not join our Supermovie of the Week Club?
The miniseries I'm presently writing has required a fair amount of research. Over the past few weeks, my online investigations have covered cyber-terrorism, computer worms and viruses, online anonymity, the NSA (National Security Agency), the FBI, Missile Defense Systems, nuclear power schematics, and the White House administration. In short, every google search sure to set…
May 5, 2012: Time flies when you’re having fun! But it’s just the opposite when you’re writing a 16 act outline!
They say that time speeds up as you get older. Conversely, I can now confirm that time actually slows down when you're trying to write up the 16 act outline of a miniseries over the weekend. I started at 8:30 this morning and finished at a little before 10:00 p.m., breaking only for a shake,…
May 4, 2012: Dark Matter artist, Garry Brown, wants to hear from YOU! And once you come up with that final act break, it’ll be smooooooooth sailing!
With the opening four-issue arc of our comic book series, Dark Matter, completed, I thought this would be a great opportunity to have artist Garry Brown swing by this blog for a Q&A. A native of Scotland and graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Garry has worked for Marvel, DC, BOOM!…
April 25, 2012: Becoming a No Man
Back in the day, Exec. Producer Brad Wright used to say: "Fast is good, but good is better than fast." To which then writer/director Peter DeLuise would invariably reply: "GotitgoodisbetterthafastGotit!". But there was no rush. Usually. Stargate was a well-oiled machine, this in no small part due to the writing department's ability to have a…
January 12, 2012: This Blog
"What are you talking about? You can't stop. You have to continue until you die!" - Akemi on the subject of my blog. Well, in all fairness I'm not aware of any contractual obligation that requires me to continue blogging. Strange to think that when I started this blog, back in November of 2006, it…
May 24, 2011: Transporter: The Series Pre-Production Update! Site Stats!
No turning back now! The production machine is rolling along and picking up steam, speeding, faster and faster, toward the precipice that will launch us into glorious flight! Provided the mechanical wings on this contraption hold firm. Our European team is gearing up to start shooting in Paris, Berlin, Nice, Marseilles, and the south of…
May 13, 2011: Okay, try to keep up! The Transporter Team! Dark Matter Ship Designs! Movement on the Anime Front! Stargate: SG-1 Season 6 Memories! Notes on Network Notes! And I Answer Your Stargate Questions!
When Stargate finally ended, I figured I'd take a year off to relax and recharge. As it turns out, 2011 is shaping up to be quite the opposite. As you all know (or should know if you've been reading this blog) my writing partner Paul and I have made the move to Toronto in order…
February 24, 2011: Nicely formatted. Your grammar is beyond reproach. As for the rest of it – well, you may want to cancel that weekend trip.
With the first drafts of both scripts out, I woke up this morning prepared to do something different, only to spend the day doing something not so different after all. Rob dropped me an email to inform me he'd spoken to a couple of the production's participants. They had a few notes. But, Rob assured…
February 11, 2011: A first draft! Storage awaits! The meal to end all meals! Mailbag!
Huzzah! As hoped, I completed a first draft of the script today: four acts and a teaser, 53 glorious pages, and oodles of fun! I'm very pleased. This weekend, I'll do a pass on what I have and then redirect my focus to the series bible. Whenever Paul is done with his script we'll swap,…
February 2, 2011: Toronto Day #2!
All I've been hearing about for days is "the snowstorm". "The snowstorm is coming!" "Big snowstorm on the way!" "Get ready for the huuuuge snowstorm!". Well, it finally hit last night. And, this morning, I woke up to this - That's it? THIS is the result of "the snowstorm"? I can't tell you how disappointed…
January 21, 2011: Pitching for Television!
You've been invited to pitch story ideas for a television series that has just opened the door to freelance scripts. Congratulations. This is a huge opportunity. Don't screw it up! To ensure you don't, here's some advice that will hopefully land you the gig or, at the very least, impress the producers enough that they'll…