"This tea tastes like the bitter sweat from a salaryman's collar." - Akemi, the other day, on the green tea she was served at a hotel restaurant. So it's come to this. Bubba is now an unwitting model for Akemi's inspired creations. Here a simple towel transforms him into a cross-special Princess Leia. Keeping with…
November 21, 2014: The New York Play By Play!
5:00 a.m.: I wake up so early that not even the dogs will get out of bed and join me. 6:15 a.m.: I catch a cab to the airport with my fellow Executive Producer Paul Mullie. As we pull away from the curb, I lament the fact that the production office didn't drop off my…
November 19, 2014: Introducing Dark Matter Art Director Kim Zaharko!
One of the most notoriously elusive member of the Dark Matter production team is Kim Zaharko. For days, rumors abounded of a supremely talented Art Director frequenting the lower offices, coordinating the design and construction of our awesome sets. There had been sightings but no visual confirmations. Intrigued, I set out to get photographic proof…
November 19, 2014: Introducing Dark Matter Production Designer Ian Brock!
The first time I'd ever heard about Production Designer Ian Brock was several months ago when I was having dinner with a fellow producer. We were discussing production challenges and the benefits of hiring talented people capable of making efficient use of often limited resources when my dining companion suddenly sat back and informed me:…
November 18, 2014: Notes! Notes! And notes!
Today, Paul and I sat down with fellow Dark Matter Executive Producer (and President of Prodigy Pictures) Jay Firestone for a marathon notes session. Well, it was only three scripts, so not so much a marathon as it was, say, a 5k sustained jog through episodes #101 through #103. And, I'm pleased to report, a good time was…
November 17, 2014: Welcome to the gun (sword and miscellaneous weapons) show!
My writing partner, Paul, got in yesterday for what should be a big week. We've got budget meetings tomorrow, script meetings with Jay Tuesday and Wednesday, and a whirlwind trip to the SyFy offices in New York that will see us flying out early Friday morning and flying back later that night. Today, we sat…
November 16, 2014: Life in Toronto in Pictures!
The return of my bento box breakfast. Peanut butter oatmeal with cherries and burnt white chocolate for dessert. My every-chilly girlfriend. Almost 16-year old Jelly, already in the Christmas spirit. Jelly sleeps off her walkies. Akemi's latest passion = popcorn! And, apparently, knitting! Well, at least her ears are warm. Getting together with the gang…
My Top 12 Hong Kong Movie Nite Favorites!
Way back when I was living in Montreal, I would attend something called Hong Kong Movie Nite. It was a weekly tradition, hosted by my buddy Nigel, that saw us gather at his place for wings, Jamaican takeout, Jack Daniels, occasional cigars, and screenings of some of the most bad-ass and weirdly wonderful offerings from…
November 14, 2014: Tomfoolery and horseplay on set!
It's all fun and games until an Executive Producer gets hurt. And that's what almost happened today when I was visiting set to check in on the construction of our bridge and corridor sets, and the walnut finish customized jacuzzi for my office. As usual, I was accompanied by Executive Producers' Assistant Alison Hepburn and…
November 13, 2014: C-c-c-c-c-cold!
I woke up this morning and it was snowing. Snowing!!! And the temperature has dropped about 20 degrees in a day. It's so cold that Akemi refuses to go out. She has vowed to never leave our apartment until spring. I feel terribly, for her and for the dogs, especially Lulu and her super-sensitive paws.…
November 12, 2014: Akemi popcorn fun!
I'll be in a casting session for most of the day so, today, I hand things over to Akemi and her very first popcorn-making experience...
November 11, 2014: Dark Matter prep continues! Ever closer on the casting! We’re scriptwriting machines! The ship is taking shape!
Two down, one to go. The Toronto and Vancouver second round casting sessions are in the books and only the L.A. session remains. Be Vanessa and I won't be able to attend, we're going to live stream it to the production offices. Theoretically anyway. I imagine it'll be sort of like those interactive video conferences…
November 10, 2014:
It seems I spoke to soon. It certainly looked like my Snow Monkeys were certain to go down in defeat to Ivon Bartok's team, The Running Dead. But then the Green Bay Packers took the field and, 100+ fantasy points later, my Snow Monkeys came roaring back to win the weekend! And so while, technically, Ivon…
November 9, 2014: Seeking actor/actress with own robot suit!
Well, no sooner do I make the grand announcement, letting the world know that my good friend Ivon Bartok had won the role of The Android on my new series, Dark Matter, than I have to recast the role - this the result of Ivon contravening the strict non-compete clause in his contract. The provision actually has…
November 8, 2014: Dark Matter casting!
I'm very close to losing my voice. That's what fifty phone conversation over two days gets you - fifty being the number of actors who took me up on my offer to get on the phone with them to discuss their character, the show, what we responded to in their first audition, and most importantly, help…