Today marked the final day of Amanda Tapping's directing gig on Dark Matter episode #104 (pictured above with 1st Assistant Director Brandon Tataryn). We're going to miss her. And not just because she treated the cast and crew to a mobile coffee, tea, and hot chocolate stand! Meanwhile, Assistant Production Coordinator Travis Lowry celebrated his…
February 19, 2015: A casting hint! Cat Shirt Thursday on Shaofu 2!
While we wait for the official press release on our recent casting coup (any day now!), how about a little hint in the from of a character breakdown for the latest addition to the Dark Matter family: "Slick, silver-tongued, and more than a little seedy, Tabor Calchek is the crew’s “handler” and the ultimate agent. For the standard…
February 18, 2015: And now a word from our interstellar sponsors!
Today's blog entry, brought to you by Solar Soda and Cosmic Tonic. For a taste truly out of this world! *A division of Station Shaofun 2 Holdings, Ltd. CEO of graphics, Roxanne Barris. President of digital motion, Kelly Diamond. We now return to our scheduled blog entry, already in progress... - haven't worked together in…
February 17, 2015: The many superhero shirts of Jay Firestone!
The first time I met Jay Firestone was about two years ago, while I was in town working on some nameless production. My agent called to inform me that he had scheduled me a meeting with a very busy, very successful local producer. I thought: "Sure, why not?". Ninety-nine percent of the time, these meet…
February 16, 2015: Introducing Production Coordinator Alice Foster! Mailbag!
Sweet, soft-spoken, yoga enthusiastic. You'd think I was describing myself but, in fact, I'm talking about the wonderful Alice Foster, Dark Matter's Production Coordinator. And coordinate she does, juggling everything from travel and accommodations to - oh, just about everything else - with dextrous aplomb and unflagging cheerfulness. Who got me this apartment conveniently close…
February 15, 2014: For the scifi fan who has everything! And yet another big casting announcement to come!
Well, how cool is this? I returned from my two days of location shooting in Hamilton to discover this sitting in my office. While in London, Jay picked me up this box of customized Dark Matter marshmallows: Pretty cool, no? They're so awesome, I can't bring myself to eat them. Of course I'm sure Akemi…
February 14, 2015: Akemi and I take Jodelle on a foodly excursion!
"I ate like garbage box." - Akemi today after lunch, her way of letting me know she ate too much. Pictured above: the chocolates I got Akemi for Valentine's Day. Jean-Paul Hevin, shipped from Paris. They arrived three days ago and sat in the fridge because Akemi wanted to wait. A dried fruit and nut…
February 13, 2015: Back in familiar inertial dampened climate controlled faster than light territory!
It was nice to get back on the ship today after two days in Hamilton on two distant space stations. Our travels to Cygni-4 and Shaofu 2 may be over, but we'll always cherish the memories... And these commemorative Shaofu 2 decals we picked up for our ships and shuttles. Shooting in the mess, quarters, and…
February 12, 2015: Space Travels with Amanda Tapping!
We've taken a break from our shipboard routine, journeying to the far flung corners of colonized space for a little R&R. Our first stop was S-CYGNI-4, a remote way station renown for its sketchy entertainment district and signature cosmic croissants. Then it was off to check out the scene at space station Shaofu 2. A little…
February 11, 2015: Introducing Dark Matter Editor Wendy Hallam Martin! Amanda Tapping takes the directing reins!
Yesterday, I was working with editing wizard Paul Day on episode #101; today, I worked with editing wizardess (I think that's what they call 'em) Wendy Hallam Martin on episode #102. We enjoyed a delightful afternoon, taking the episode apart and reassembling it like a jigsaw puzzle in a frustrating attempt to ensure none of…
February 10, 2015: Introducing Dark Matter Editor Paul Day!
There's an old saying in the business: "We'll fix it in post". In other words, when everyone else gets through screwing things up, it falls on the editor to work his/her magic and save the day. Oh, you think I'm kidding but you'd be surprised how many adequate movies have been transformed into truly great films by the…
February 9, 2015: Introducing Dark Matter VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson!
Well, well, well. If it isn't former Stargate script coordinator, fellow fantasy football enthusiast, and self-styled Thai food expert Lawren Bancroft-Wilson who joins us - all the way from comparatively warmer Vancouver, B.C. - to take on the role of Visual Effects Supervisor for Dark Matter's first season. Lawren will be acting as the on…
February 8, 2015: Reading! Watching! And, oh yeah, producing!
"My hair is hauntedly long." - Akemi today, presumably comparing her hair to Ringu's creepy crawling Sadako. I spent much of the weekend going over the director's cut of episode #101 (directed by T.J. Scott, edited by Paul Day). It's pretty awesome - and will be awesomer still once they've addressed my persnickety notes ("add/trim…
February 7, 2015: My all doggy blog post!
Honestly, my weekends are actually more jam-packed busy than my 12 hour days on set! Errands to run, documents to gather, and a director's cut of episode #101 to watch and give notes on. Oh, and also squeezed in a Skype call from our old friend Alexander Ruemelin who ranks right up there with Carl…
February 6, 2015: Enraged actors thirst for writer-producer blood!
Yesterday, I released the script for episode #110. When I told Paul, he called me cruel for doing so without putting out #111 as well. The script went out at 8:00 p.m. last night and, between set-ups, the actors were huddled around their cell phones, reading. By the time I got home an hour later,…