I can't sleep well the night before I fly or, apparently, the night before I have to get up early for a big meeting - which is the all the more problematic when your that early wake-up call works out to a 4:30 a.m. rise and shine west coast time. But I'm not on the…
January 31, 2011: Toronto-bound!
Okay. All set and ready to fly! Looks like it'll be an all-travel day, so I've lined up a few things to keep me occupied: On my kindle: The Boys from Brazil, by Ira Levin Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain It Must've Been Something I Ate, by Jeffrey Steingarten The…
January 30, 2011: Ready for T.O.! Cautiously optimistic! Things I made! Recommend me a Bat book!
Tomorrow is a travel day and that, of course, means a sleepless night spent tossing and turning, worrying about whether or not I've set my alarm properly. It's an 11:30 flight so chances are, even if I do sleep in, I'll be able to get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I'm…
January 29, 2011: Help me avoid a chocolate crisis! Sugar rush! Your Stargate dream team!
Oh, dear lord! Breaking news! Expert: World will run out of chocolate in a few years World 'faces chocolate drought in 2014' Chocolate Prices on the Rise Cocoa price surges amid threat of Ivory Coast export ban Time to rethink my annual chocolate party (April 18, 2010: The Greatest Chocolate Party Ever!). Maybe it's just as…
January 28, 2011: Just wake me up if I have to go to Toronto! Lunch with Ryan! Still no word – in case you’re wondering! Clearing my DVR!
So, to recap: 1. An opportunity presents itself that would take us to Toronto. I agonize over the prospect of upending my life and moving back to the east coast, suffering sleepless nights, dizziness, stomach problems, and hives in the process. Friends and business associates tell me I'd be a fool to pass up this…
January 27, 2011: Not so fast!
I love this business. Always expect the unexpected. So after spending the better part of two weeks anxiety-ridden over the prospect of having to move to Toronto, I finally made peace with the possibility. I listened to the assurances of friends, family, and representation. I did more research on the franchise and, had to admit,…
January 26, 2011: Another Opportunity Beckons! March’s Book of the Month Club Pick! Doc gives me the all clear!
"I'm enjoying the time off,"said Carl, sitting on my left, behind his desk, which used to be Robert Cooper's desk, and Jonathan Glassner's desk before his. "But I'm starting to feel like I want to get back to work." "Me too,"said Paul, sitting on my right on what may or may not have been the…
January 25, 2011: What was your favorite Stargate VFX shot/sequence? Dinner with the gang!
Looking back over your Stargate viewing experience, what would you consider your favorite VFX shot/sequence? It's tough. So many to choose from. I'd love to hear what the fans have to say. But I'd also love to hear what an expert has to say on the subject. An expert like, say, this guy - Stargate…
January 24, 2011: Hey, look who’s in town!
Hey! Look who's back in town! Yep. Executive Producer Carl Binder is in Vancouver for Two Days Only in order to organize and pack up a few things. Correction. In order for his wife, Karen, to organize and pack up a few things while he sits in his office trawling the internet for hairless monkey…
January 23, 2011: Meals and mailbag!
I'm watching way too much Top Chef... Mailbag: max writes: "Do you need an agent to get invited to pitch an idea?" Answer: In almost all cases, yes. max also writes: "Did the staff or actors of SG series ever get together with the competition (BG for example) for a BBQ or drinks?" Answer: BSG…
January 22, 2011: Today’s book haul! More food t.v. personalities to add to my growing lists! Testing a reader recipe!
To all those wondering - yes, I fully intend to follow up yesterday's Pitching for Television post with a Submitting the Perfect Outline entry (eventually) and no, yesterday's post does not mean we're actively looking for pitches. Sorry. Swung by the bookstore today. Check out my haul - Lisa the vegetarian (That's the name she…
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…
January 20, 2011: Mr. Fixit! Season 2 sneak peeks from the Art Department! Mailbag!
First, thanks to everyone who provided detailed instructions, talking me through the complicated process of resetting my garage door opener. I, uh, pulled on the little red handle and it works now. Second, here's some production art from the back half of Stargate: Universe's second season: Third, let's do some mailbag - maria writes: "If…
January 19, 2011: What a deal! Foodly updates!
My garage door has stopped working. Whenever I hit my remote, it makes an ineffective clicking sound and refuses to engage. So, today, finally, I got around to calling up the local LiftMaster dealer in my area. I explained the problem and their representative seemed genuinely sympathetic - before informing me that the company only…
January 18, 2011: Some Iron Hunt discussion! Fundraiser alert! And yet another mailbag!
The Iron Hunt discussion: ponytail writes: "I’ve always thought I did not like zombies, but after reading this book and a couple other choices from your book of the month club (like Boneshaker), I have come to realize I have always liked zombies." Answer: In all fairness, the zombies in this book are very different…