So much for the Christmas spirit. Today, Akemi did something she rarely ever does. She actually bought herself something. The girl hardly ever spends on herself but, this afternoon, she made an exception when she came across a cup emblazoned with the letter A at a local shop. Being a big tea drinker - and…
December 10, 2014: The shuttle!
We're heavy into prep on episodes #101-102 and, with the commencement of principal photography about a month away, sets are coming together nicely. Our ship, The Raza, has come a long way in the past couple of weeks. The corridors have been textured with faux-grate flooring, pipes, vents, and grills, its walls painted in metallic…
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 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…
July 23, 2014: My favorite spaceships!
While we're on the subject... SUPER DIMENSIONAL FORCE MACROSS ANDROMEDA ASCENDANT STARBUG SERENITY THE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO VORLON CRUISER MOYA STAR DESTROYER ASGARD SHIPS THE BEBOP ANCIENT AURORA CLASS BATTLESHIP THE ARCADIA THE USS SULACO THE MILLENNIUM FALCON THE DESTINY USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701 THE NOSTROMO KLINGON BIRD OF PREY ROMULAN WARBIRD
February 14, 2014: The Hot Chocolate Festival Top 5! Plus 1 for good luck! Our Stargate: Atlantis rewatch continues with…The Eye!
Alas, it was a herculean task and despite my best efforts, I came up short. In the end, I sampled only 47 of the some 60 varieties of hot chocolate offered for this year's Hot Chocolate Festival. Still, 47 hot chocolates in 24 days aint bad, especially considering I took those four days off to…
December 28, 2013: Stargate Universe 1.5! The Japanese Girlfriend Edition!
Akemi and I finished watching the second half of Stargate: Universe's first season today. It's been interesting to see her develop a genuine passion for the series. "I love Stargate!"she declared this morning. "Please call me, geeku-chan!" Like any fan, Geeku-chan had her favorite characters, her favorite episodes. Robert Cooper's Time is still tops in…
September 21, 2013: Now what?! Stargate: Atlantis! The Remnants Art Department Package!
Seriously. No sooner do I recover from my pulled solar plexus (see previous issues, ed.) than I am now battling a lower back "thing". Specifically, a lower right hip ache that flares up whenever I shift my weight a certain way - or not. I don't remember doing anything that could have caused it -…
September 12, 2013: Whither Stargate?
With the recent news that Roland Emmerich would like to make a second, big screen, Stargate movie, questions surrounding the future of the franchise have again started popping up throughout fandom. It's been three years since Stargate: Universe was cancelled and fans want to know: What's next? Whither Stargate? Well in my humble and somewhat…
April 5, 2013: Nebula Awards Showcase 2013!
I know a guy who knows a gal who knows someone (another guy? another gal? a super-intelligent chimp?) who knows a gal who got me an advance copy of... Nebula Awards Showcase 2013 edited by Catherine Asaro The book includes Nebula winners in the categories of Best Short Story, Best Novelette, Best Novella, Best Novel, the…
March 26, 2013: You asked for it! Atlantis floor plans! The Control Room! The ZPM Room! Weir’s Office! The Adrift & Lifeline Art Department Package!
This week feels like the calm before the storm. Of course, I could be wrong and it may actually be the calm before the calm before the storm. Or, worse, the calm before the storm that never comes. Paul and I are closing on several writing assignments (an action feature, an SF pilot, another SF…
March 22, 2013: The Destiny Bridge!
In Stargate: Universe's second season, the crew finally discovers Destiny's bridge. From a creative standpoint, holding off the discovery until then allowed for some great drama: Rush's attempts to hide it from the rest of the crew, the subsequent attempts to control the ship, etc. Also, waiting until season two permitted us to give it…
March 14, 2013: Veronica Mars fans are finally getting their movie! So when are Stargate fans getting THEIR movie?
This was the question many Stargate fans were asking themselves yesterday after news broke of the astounding success of the Veronica Mars kickstarter campaign. For those of you who haven't heard, series creator Rob Thomas approached Warner Bros. about making a Veronica Mars movie. According to Thomas: "Their reaction was, if you can show there's…
February 2013: The Akemi Fall 2013 Collection! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! The Prodigal!
Akemi has caught the dog fashion bug! Over the last couple of days, she's been hard at work, snipping, sewing, and generally cannibalizing some of her older outfits, transforming them into haute canine couture. Check out her Fall Collection so far: Meanwhile, a naked pudgy Bubba awaits his first outfit... Sadly, Akemi is running out…
January 22, 2013: Days of Stargate Atlantis Past continues with The Queen!
So tired and so annoyed of so many things. Just a couple of seconds ago, Akemi walked by me and asked: "Are you stressed?" I asked her how she could tell. Her response: "Your face is all red." Really? This burgeoning angst has apparently worked its way into my subconscious as well. I woke up…