"You! Ask me a question!" Foie gras (foreground) foie gras enabler (background) As a result of losing a bet to my co-worker Kerry, I’ll be accompanying her to a local musical production of her choice. Her choice? Altar Boyz, the hit off-Broadway musical that has been described as “DIVINE!” (Michael Sommers, STAR-LEDGER), “AN ENERGETIC CROWD-PLEASER!”…
May 25, 2008: The Land of Laughs, by Jonathan Carroll
Going into this book, I had no idea what to expect. I selected it on the basis of several strong recommendations and a rather whimsical cover depicting an anthropomorphic kite and a six armed creature eating ice cream on a front porch while some malevolent-looking fellow glares out at them from inside the house. Going…
May 24, 2009: Extinction Update, Ever-Closer to That Comic Book Series, and The Mailbag
Heard word back on the Stargate Atlantis movie script from two fronts - creative and business - and both responses were overwhelmingly positive. Some confusion (not surprised given the complexity of the story), so we’ll make a point to streamline and clarify in the next draft. Some great preliminary notes from Carl who missed two…
May 22, 2009: Welcome to the Jungle…But Maybe You Might Want To Come Back Later When We’re Actually Rolling
Carl second-guesses Rob's directorial decision. Everyone laughs off Carl's suggestion. Chadwick, the birthday boy. Chadwick's birthday cake. Director Robert Cooper - prepared for any eventuality. Peter Kelamis (Adam Brody) and Patrick Gilmore (Dale Volker) Mark Burgess (Franklin) Jennifer Spence (Lisa Park) Nancy Ha (Costumes) all decked out for the inclement weather. Camo rain gear Goodies…
May 21, 2009: Death By Musical Theater, Into the Jungle, and an Update on the Comic Book Front
Ready to take down the confirmation number with my lucky Tokyo pen. Today, I bought tickets to Altar Boyz, a musical production that the Arts Club Theatre describes thusly: “ Watch out 'N Sync, the Altar Boyz are coming to town! Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan, and Abraham-the gefilte fish out of water-can sing and dance…
May 20, 2009: GottaMakeThisFast!
Carl: "This better be good." Tuna appetizer Short ribs Carl gives the food the thumbs up. Green tea opera cake Well damn. Looks like I’m on the clock tonight. I forgot my power cord at work meaning I only have as long as my laptop battery lasts to get this entry out. According to…
May 19, 2009: Victoria Day, Developments on the SGU Front, Michael and Lexa Drop By But Don’t Stick Around For the Spring Cleaning!
Well, we were all back at work today following the Victoria Day long weekend - Victoria Day, of course, being a recently adopted Canadian holiday commemorating one of history’s most remarkable pioneering female Brits. Yes, I refer to none other than Ms. Victoria Beckham. Looking back, I suspect the vote to bestow the honor on…
May 16, 2009: Scooped By My Own Dogs (Instead of the Other Way Around For a Change)!
Suspect #3 Suspect #4 Suspect #5 So not cool, guys. Not cool at all. Bad! Bad dogs! I suppose I should have learned my lesson the first time. The first time, of course, being last year when I taught the dogs how to dial 911 in case of emergency. They proved quick learners, managing to…
May 11, 2009: Just Between Us, It’s Really Better to Receive Than to Give
Multi-tasking: enjoying two of my gifts simultaneously! Guess who else is doing something new with their hair? And redirecting packages meant for me to her office? The gals from Accounting celebrate a birthday! Then dock everyone a half hour's pay for the time wasted eating cake. They say it is better to give than to…
May 6, 2009: Noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My writing partner Paul gave me a call this afternoon to go over the game plan for tomorrow’s conference call. As I mentioned in a previous post, Paul and I have an awesome SF series idea (complete with accompanying pilot script) we’ve been dying to go out with but, because of our continuing commitment to…
May 5, 2009: Ashleigh Checks In – To My Office(!), May’s Books of the Month Club Reminder, Welcome Thoughts, and The Mailbag
After yesterday’s entry in which I expressed my, uh, concern about Ashleigh’s return to the production offices following her Mexico getaway (at the height of the pandemic hysteria no less), I found the following comment awaiting moderation: “Hey Joe! Am back safe and sound! Hope you had a good week. Listen, I was speaking to…
May 4, 2009: A Deadline Looms, Dogs At Play, and The Mailbag
This morning, I received a gentle reminder from my editor that the deadline is looming on that short story I’ve been working on for, what, it feels like three years now. Well, actually, more like 6+ months, but still. As luck would have it, we’re on hiatus and I had set aside this entire week…
May 3, 2009: Transforming Stage 5 From Stargate Command to Icarus Base
Follow Carl down the new-look corridor on Stage 5. Hang a left, up the stairs, and you're in the control room. The stripped-down gate room. The former SGC gate becomes the gate on Icarus Base. Back in early February, Carl and I wandered down to Stage 5 to check out the work in progress.…
May 1, 2009: Projects Galore!
I’m well into the rewrite of Space, episode #11 of Stargate: Universe, and finally got it down to a full 46 pages from a robust 54 (and that’s down from its original 60!). Paring down the dialogue, stripping away some of the superfluous beats, but still maintaining a lot of the character beats that Rob…
April 29, 2009: Simul-posting, Stargate, and the SyFy Slant.
Several weeks ago, when SyFy (sic?) and MGM first approached me about becoming the official behind-the-scenes voice for the new Stargate: Universe series and simul-posting on SciFi.com (sic?) I was admittedly leery. As someone who has made it a point to post a daily entry going on 2+ years now, the last thing I need…