A little something I was holding onto. The breakdown on the Ferrous Corp and Galactic Authority ships were featured on another site. Today, I feature the ships of The Mikkei Combine with helpful overviews from design artist James Robbins and VFX supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson. James Robbins: [Dark Matter Production Designer] Ian Brock forwarded me the…
July 3, 2015: Dark Matter Dog Clues! Episode 4 tonight! Directed by Amanda Tapping!
I was in the costume department, talking to Dark Matter costume designer Noreen Landry when I noticed the pictures of the dogs lining the back wall. How cute, I thought. A different dedicated dog for each episode. And then, on closer scrutiny, I realized that it was much more than that. Yes, a different dog for each…
June 28, 2015: Mailbag!
It's a relaxing Sunday, so why don't we open up the mailbag and see if we can find some answers to your burning questions... Cathy L. writes: "Question will you continue to film in Toronto or will you try and change your base to Vancouver?" Answer: That all depends on whether or not the show…
June 13, 2015: Ship-based SF has returned! Let’s talk Dark Matter!
THANK YOU to everyone who tuned in for our Dark Matter North American and Australian premieres. I was madly live tweeting throughout the night along with many of you and I'm pleased to report we were trending in Canada and worldwide (also San Francisco and New York when I checked!). Judging from your reactions on the various…
May 30, 2015: Akemi’s big hair day!
Inspired by Jodelle/Dark Matter's FIVE, Akemi decided to try something a little different... So, whaddya think? Who should she be cosplaying at the San Diego Comic Con? Maybe. Before heading in for her 8 hour hair sessions, Akemi and I entertained our friend Jessie - Canada's future Prime Minster! Alas, I think this phage treatment may…
May 13, 2015: The Dark Matter rollout continues! Introducing Jodelle Ferland as FIVE!
Continuing our Dark Matter rollout - today, we turn the spotlight to actress Jodelle Ferland and her character, FIVE. This was part of the casting breakdown that went out for the role: "AKA The Kid. THE SHIP'S PIXIE-ISH MASCOT WITH MYSTERIOUS ABILITIES - SHE'S THE KID WITH ALL THE SECRETS. And a propensity for getting…
May 12, 2015: Who’s ready for some ship-based SF?! A Dark Matter sneak peek! News! Behind the scene pics!
SyFy offers up a sneak peek of Dark Matter in this awesome video highlighting the show, the crew and - finally! - some of the visual effects: http://www.syfy.com/darkmatter/videos/dark-matter-season-one-sneak-peek Geo-blocked...but here's hoping it gets uploaded to youtube soon! Hey, Canadians! We finally have an air date! Dark Matter premieres Friday, June 12th at 10:00 p.m. on Space Channel. Other Dark…
May 10, 2015: As we head into our final week of production on Dark Matter’s first season!
Walked onto set the other day to find the above adorning the triptych in the mess hall. From left to right: Anthony Lemke as Han/THREE, Marc Bendavid as Luke/ONE, Melissa O'Neil as Leia/TWO, Alex Mallari Jr. as Chewbacca/FOUR, Zoie Palmer as C3PO/The Android, and Roger Cross as R2D2/SIX. Greg Whiteside, in charge of Futurama and…
May 3, 2015: Just enough time to catch my breath…
"You're as busy as a chocolate shop on Valentine's Day!" - Akemi this morning after I told her I'd be going to set next Saturday as well. "Tell Ivon that too much riding bicycle will damage his cincin." - Akemi this afternoon after hearing about my friend Ivon's affinity for spin class. "No more poppylocky." -…
April 28, 2015: Time flies! We all like Vanessa! And gelato!
Time flies when you're having fun. Today marked our very last read-thru of Dark Matter's first season. Pictured above: the cast (with the exception of Zoie Palmer who was excused because she had a note from her mom), EP Vanessa Piazza, Director Andy Mikita, Line Producer Norman Denver, Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok, VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson, and…
April 21, 2015: I’m so busy, I don’t have time to title this blog entry!
I had the afterburners on today, casting, getting a new scene out, prepping episodes #112 and #1113, discussing the upcoming VFX show and tell, organizing the concept sketches for the visual roll-out, providing notes on the preliminary ship sounds. A dinner break with my friend Tara Yelland (Follow her here - https://twitter.com/t_yelland - but be warned:…
April 17, 2015: Behind the scenes on your new favorite show – Dark Matter! And a Jelly update!
Because you asked, extra nicely, here's a picture of Dark Matter's Commander Truffault of the Mikkei Combine (Torri Higginson) standing alongside ONE (Marc Bendavid). Wait. Is that the mess hall? What is she doing onboard the ship? Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok was looking a little piqued so we placed him in quarantine. Nighty night to our brave little…
April 16, 2015: Scenes from the set of Dark Matter!
Another day, another off-ship location. This one a little harder to get into than your average space station. What's in the big weird box? On Set Key Props Lisa Amaral Wright shows off another mystery box - with some inspired gak. Anthony Lemke (Dark Matter's THREE) rolls in from his second job as a refrigerator repairman.…
April 9, 2015: The Dark Matter trailer is almost here! More Dark Matter personnel!
Received confirmation that the very first Dark Matter teaser trailer will hit the net tomorrow morning. Watch for it! Today, Paul and I completed our final pass on episode #113, the big season finale! Looking forward to hearing the reactions... Came across the following sign on one of our stages today. Should I be worried? Also…
April 6, 2015: Day #3 of our Four Days of Tabor Calchek feature! Enjoying the great outdoors on Dark Matter episode #109!
I admire people who dress like they just don't care - what other people think. Lady Gaga. Don Cherry. And, of course, Dark Matter's Tabor Calchek. I knew the gang in wardrobe was going to have a lot of fun dressing him - maybe, I suspected, a little too much fun. So it was with a certain…