Last night, the gang convened for our second to last Walking Dead night of the season (Next up: Game of Thrones!). In attendance: actor Roger Cross (SIX), actress Jodelle Ferland (FIVE), and VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft -Wilson. We missed last week's instalment so it was a double-header night. We were all on the edge of…
March 19, 2015: Introducing Dark Matter Set P.A. Mackenzie Lawrence! Help support her webisode pilot, Press Pause! Dark Matter teaser pics!
Her name is Mackenzie Lawrence but I just call her Happy because, well, she always is. Smiling. Singing. Dancing. Even after her recent bout with that flu-like bug that was going around, she was back on set, greeting me with her trademark cheer. She is, without a doubt, one of the most upbeat, exuberant, positive…
March 17, 2015: Introducing Dark Matter Costume Designer Noreen Landry and the Dark Matter Costume Department!
Another whirlwind day! Wrote three new scenes, rewrote another, attended a few prep meetings for episode #108 with director T.W. Peacocke, and dropped by set to watch our awesome special guest star kick ass - and look absolutely stunning doing it. Tomorrow, we hit the bridge for more fiery antics. P.S. I have no doubt…
March 16, 2015: Alex Mallari Jr.! Jamaican patties! Socks (the wearing kind)! Socks (the hitting kind)! And that new Android scene!
"Come on, Alex. What would Bruce Lee do? Make it awesome!" - Actor Alex Mallari Jr., all mic'd up in preparation for another big training room sequence. Dark Matter Episode #107, Day 2. More often than not, whenever we seek out Alex's character, FOUR, we usually find him training. Originally, I envisioned him working with swords…
March 15, 2015: A trip to the post office! Mailbag! Stargate! Dark Matter! And Cloverblob!
"Girls who like Cinderella have nightmare marriage. Statistics show. It's data!" - Akemi today, on our walk back home from lunch. I guess it makes sense. Today also saw us visit the post office so that Akemi could sense her dad a chocolate shipment. Apparently, his stock is running low. Of course no overseas shipment…
March 14, 2015: The end draws near! That’s my final Dark Matter first draft!
Holy crap! Just finished my first draft of episode #113, the big season finale. It comes in at a robust 57 pages and it is tremendous fun! Twist after turn after surprise leading to the final shocker that will positively blow your minds. Back when I first started developing the show, the show evolved around…
March 13, 2015: Seething…working…entertaining…celebrating!
Ever get one of those morning phone calls that annoys you so thoroughly that is sours your mood for the rest of the day? I received one of those this a.m. and it irritated me to no end. BUT then, happily, I got distracted with work - a visual effects spotting session, a second unit…
March 12, 2015: Dark Matter second unit madness! We visit Eridani 6!
Today was a torrid writing day. Not so coincidentally, it was a day that saw me driving around a lot and, as many of you know, I do some of my best writing while driving, showering, or whenever someone I'm having dinner with is talking to me. The day saw me blow through 11+ pages,…
March 11, 2015: Intergalactic pet shipping, CG skin and Hong Kong dust!
Ship your pet via Intergalactic Express! Planet to Planet service! (video compliments of Kelly Diamond) While Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok and VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson were on set with Director Ron Murphy and the rest of the gang, shooting in the Palace and eating breakfast lasagna, I was back on the home front (and by…
March 10, 2015: To Do! Introducing A Camera Dolly Grip Joe Strazzeri!
Pictured above: my growing To Do list. It's always great having a fellow foodie on set. Even better if that fellow foodie is also an accomplished cook just brimming with awesome recipes and culinary secrets. Such is the case with the indomnitable Joe Strazzeri - bon vivant, culinary composer, and, oh yeah!, A Camera Dolly…
March 9, 2015: Kitchen requests! Ron on a roll! And introducing Matti “Two Guns” Huhta!
The Dark Matter production office kitchen is fairly well-stocked, offering everything from iced tea and mini cinnamon rolls to boxes of seaweed chips. Sadly, the one thing they didn't have today was the one thing I was looking for - club soda. And so, I went to the big whiteboard to write in my ask.…
March 8, 2015: A familiar face checks in! And introducing Dark Matter Director of Photography Craig Wright!
Well, look who it is. Yes, that's director Andy Mikita (you may know him from such shows as Stargate: SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, and Stargate: Universe) flashing the Dark Matter trade paperback. What's the deal? A little recreational reading? Perhaps some professional research in advance of an upcoming gig? Well, I suppose we'll all find out soon enough. A member…
March 7, 2015: Dark Matter EPK Day!
From now on, whenever someone requests a photo of me to accompany an interview or some newspaper article ("Local Producer Unwittingly Consumes Ornamental Headdress") THIS is the one they're getting. Akemi snapped it during today's EPK (Electronic Press Kit) Day. Director T.J. Scott, his photographer, and the gang from SyFy were on hand to photograph…
March 6, 2015: Akemi’s Most Dezastro Day! The Dark Matter episode #107 props meeting is in the books!
I received the following text message from Akemi today: "Why?"I asked. She replied with the following photo: Then this one: And, finally, THIS one: Why is Jelly sitting in her water bowl? The episode #107 props meeting happened today. Check out all the goodies. Director Bruce McDonald takes Bubba for a spin. This is…
March 5, 2015: Farmhouse scouting in the deep freeze!
While newly minted Consulting Producer Ivon Bartok was staying cosy on our nice warm sets, I was trekking to the frosty hinterlands of Hamilton to scout farmhouse locations for our upcoming episodes. Given the fact that I'd be braving the wilderness, I dressed in what I thought was appropriate fashion - jeans, sweater, winter boots…