Joseph Mallozzi's Blog! (SPOILERS For All SG Shows and Dark Matter)

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April 7, 2017

Photos: Dark Matter, Dark Matter poll results, Brad Wetherly


We have an official premiere date! Dark Matter returns Friday June 9th with a double episode premiere starting at 8:00 p.m.! Then, the show moves to its NEW TIME at 9:00 p.m. the following week.

Friday, June 9th –

8:00 p.m. = “Episode 301: Being Better Is So Much Harder”

9:00 p.m. = “Episode 302: It Doesn’t Have To Be Like This”

Friday, June 16th –

9:00 p.m. = “Episode 303: Welcome To The Revolution”

Love the move from 10:00 p.m. as it now sandwiches us between two great shows – Killjoys and Wynonna Earp – as part of a Syfy Friday triple header!

On the triptych in The Raza mess this morning. Another little surprise from our playback operator, Greg Whiteside.

We have another episode title! This one was close in the early goings but our winner pulled away late to take the prize.

Thanks to everyone who voted. 10 episodes named; 3 to go!

Awwww. Bittersweet. Pictured above: the last production meeting of Dark Matter season 3.

Script Supervisor Brad Wetherly = the best dressed man in show business!

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April 8, 2017

Photos: Books


In a previous blog entry, I ranted about the **** book recommendations put forth by numerous reputable websites. It would seem that, in many cases, the quality of the work is of much less importance than the connections of the author. Well, someone recently directed me to BBC.com’s “books” section which offers up a monthly list of suggested titles. They’re a varied lot and some may not be to your taste, but take a chance (like I did) and you’ll be pleasantly surprised (like I was).

Or, you can check out any of the following books – “My Favorite 5 Recent Reads”:

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti (General Fiction)

After years spent living on the run, Samuel Hawley moves with his teenage daughter, Loo, to Olympus, Massachusetts. There, in his late wife’s hometown, Hawley finds work as a fisherman, while Loo struggles to fit in at school and grows curious about her mother’s mysterious death. Haunting them both are twelve scars Hawley carries on his body, from twelve bullets in his criminal past; a past that eventually spills over into his daughter’s present, until together they must face a reckoning yet to come. This father-daughter epic weaves back and forth through time and across America, from Alaska to the Adirondacks.

Ill Will by Dan Chaon (Thriller)

“We are always telling a story to ourselves, about ourselves.” This is one of the little mantras Dustin Tillman likes to share with his patients, and it’s meant to be reassuring. But what if that story is a lie?

A psychologist in suburban Cleveland, Dustin is drifting through his forties when he hears the news: His adopted brother, Rusty, is being released from prison. Thirty years ago, Rusty received a life sentence for the massacre of Dustin’s parents, aunt, and uncle. The trial came to epitomize the 1980s hysteria over Satanic cults; despite the lack of physical evidence, the jury believed the outlandish accusations Dustin and his cousin made against Rusty. Now, after DNA analysis has overturned the conviction, Dustin braces for a reckoning.

Meanwhile, one of Dustin’s patients has been plying him with stories of the drowning deaths of a string of drunk college boys. At first Dustin dismisses his patient’s suggestions that a serial killer is at work as paranoid thinking, but as the two embark on an amateur investigation, Dustin starts to believe that there’s more to the deaths than coincidence. Soon he becomes obsessed, crossing all professional boundaries—and putting his own family in harm’s way.

The Suicide Motor Club by Christopher Buehlman (Horror)

Remember that car that passed you near midnight on Route 66, doing 105 with its lights off? You wondered where it was going so quickly on that dark, dusty stretch of road, motor roaring, the driver glancing out the window as he blew by.

Did his greedy eyes shine silver like a coyote’s? Did he make you feel like prey?

You can’t remember now.

You just saw the founder of the Suicide Motor Club. Be grateful his brake lights never flashed. Be grateful his car was already full.

They roam America, littering the highways with smashed cars and bled-out bodies, a gruesome reflection of the unsettled sixties. But to anyone unlucky enough to meet them in the lonely hours of the night, they’re just a blurry memory.

That is—to all but one…

Two years ago, they left a witness in the mangled wreck of her family car, her husband dead, her son taken. She remembers their awful faces, despite their tricks and glamours. And she’s coming for them—her thirst for vengeance even more powerful than their hunger for blood.

On the deserted highways of America, the hunters are about to become the hunted…

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi (Science Fiction)

Our universe is ruled by physics and faster than light travel is not possible — until the discovery of The Flow, an extra-dimensional field we can access at certain points in space-time that transport us to other worlds, around other stars.

Humanity flows away from Earth, into space, and in time forgets our home world and creates a new empire, the Interdependency, whose ethos requires that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It’s a hedge against interstellar war — and a system of control for the rulers of the empire.

The Flow is eternal — but it is not static. Just as a river changes course, The Flow changes as well, cutting off worlds from the rest of humanity. When it’s discovered that The Flow is moving, possibly cutting off all human worlds from faster than light travel forever, three individuals — a scientist, a starship captain and the Empress of the Interdependency — are in a race against time to discover what, if anything, can be salvaged from an interstellar empire on the brink of collapse.

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Historical Fiction)

The winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as five other awards, The Sympathizer is the breakthrough novel of the year. With the pace and suspense of a thriller and prose that has been compared to Graham Greene and Saul Bellow, The Sympathizer is a sweeping epic of love and betrayal. The narrator, a communist double agent, is a “man of two minds,” a half-French, half-Vietnamese army captain who arranges to come to America after the Fall of Saigon, and while building a new life with other Vietnamese refugees in Los Angeles is secretly reporting back to his communist superiors in Vietnam. The Sympathizer is a blistering exploration of identity and America, a gripping espionage novel, and a powerful story of love and friendship.

If you do get a chance to read any of the aforementioned, give me your take in the comments section.

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April 9, 2017

Photos: Toronto Dessert Tour 2017 – Part 2


It was an even better turnout for Part 2 of our Toronto Dessert Tour that saw thirteen of us hit five different sweet, sweet spots…

STOP #1

MOMOFUKU MILK BAR: cereal ice cream, cookies, crack pie.

190 University Avenue – noodlebar-toronto.momofuku.com

Sampling: cereal soft serve, crack pie soft serve, crack pie, corn cookies, compost cookies, double chocolate cookies, cornflake chocolate chip marshmallow cookies.

Sisters Kerrington (aka Snackington) and Breanne dig in.

The soft serve crack pie with cereal sprinkles was the clear favorite. We had to have security escort director Ron Murphy from the building to stop him from eating their entire supply.

On the move to our next location.

STOP #2

UNCLE TETSU’S ANGEL CAFE: Japanese cheesecake

191 Dundas Street West – www.angelcafetoronto.com

Settling in for Round #2.

Mean Jean Brophey checks out the maid cafe hall of fame!

Three different types of cheesecake. Surprisingly, there was a pretty even distribution of favorites.

STOP #3

TSUJIRI: matcha desserts

147 Dundas Street West – tsujiri-global.com

Good and good for you!

Dessert Crew and unwitting participant caught up in the whirlwind of eating – pictured fleeing the scene after Elliot unwittingly ate her adzuki mochi.

Houjicha and matcha soft serves.

Snackington leads the voracious feeding frenzy (photo by Ivon Bartok). I feel fortunate to have escaped with my fingers.

One big awkward thumbs up for the sushi at Japango from Ron!

STOP #4 (SAVORY INTERLUDE)

JAPANGO – Sushi

1122 Elizabeth Street – Japango

Impatiently awaiting sushi.

Ron lectures everyone on proper sidewalk sushi etiquette.

Alas, the pic doesn’t do the sushi justice. Delicious. It receives both Akemi and my seal of approval.

STOP #5

INFUSE CAFE: Organic teas and coffees (also boardgames!).

354 Yonge Street – Infuse Cafe

We actually planned to walk up to Red Bench for ice cream sandwiches, but it had the temerity to permanently cease operations sometime between the last time I visited and today. So, instead, we ended up going to Infuse Cafe, home of Toronto’s best teas and coffees, served hot OR cold.

You know what goes good with tea?

Homemade snickerdoodles and oatmeal-raisin cookies, of course.

My double order of the Ice Cream Sandwich Coffee, a glorious mix of coffee and, yes, ice cream sandwiches.

An out of control Ron Murphy cancels his tea order in favor of another ice cream sandwich coffee.

Lawren bids us a fond farewell in order to attend a purported business meeting.

Jean and Rowena, hopped up on sugar, offering free hugs to wary passersby.

Thanks to everyone who attended today’s foodie foray. We’re going to attempt to squeeze in one more tour (Toronto Dessert Tour Part 3!) before everyone scatters to the four winds once production ends.

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April 10, 2017 - Part 1

Photos: Ian Brock, Dark Matter


Back in 2014 when we first started putting together our team for the show’s first season, Ian Brock’s name came up. A LOT. And always, whenever it did, it would be accompanied by the phrase: “He’s a genius”. From different people at different points in the pre-pre-production process it was “Ian Brock” and “genius”. Well, I’ve encountered very few geniuses over the course of my 20+ years in television so I was fairly skeptical.

In the next eight weeks or so, I watched Ian oversee the creation and construction of our standing sets – The Raza bridge, corridors, underbelly, quarters, infirmary, mess, and Marauder. Then, in the ensuing months, it was space stations and spaceship interiors, mining colonies and palaces, builds big and small. He was spirited, smart, incredibly creative. And, yeah, I finally realized – a genius.

He’s someone who can break down a script into its constituent locations and then, working within the constraints of a very limited budget, craft some of the most gorgeous sets a production has any business aspiring to. Believe me, his work looks gorgeous on screen but you can’t really appreciate the extent of that genius until you’ve actually visited his sets and studied the details of his ingenious designs.

Hopefully, some day you will and, I have no doubt, you’ll agree. Genius.

Anyway, Ian was kind enough to take time from his very busy schedule (building a space shipyard, tech room, palace quarters, war room, lab, and an industrial area housing a powered gateway to ominous parts unknown) to answer a few of your questions.

Check out his Q&A to learn his tips on breaking into the business, his overview of the set-building process, and, most importantly, his favorite Stargate series…

Jon Hurbesch: “How did you end up working as a Production Designer? Was it something you planned to do or did you fall into it?”

IB: Hi Jon. I’ve been making movies since I was 12 and I pursued filmmaking and particularly the the art dept side of things through high school and university. I went to production design school at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation after university and other than stints in theatre in various capacities

I’ve worked in the art department my whole career.

arcticgoddess: “Where do you get your ideas? And: Are you a sci-fi fan?”

IB: Hi articgoddess. I get a lot of ideas from everyday life and things that I see around that interest me – particularly materials that I can repurpose into a set in some way. I squirrel ideas, notes and clippings away – random stuff I like and save them for a a rainy day. I have folders from the early 90’s that are still relevant to set construction.

On the show, most ideas come from the script and discussions in concept meetings . I do a lot of research when I’m building a set and experiment with many different designs as part of the process.

I am a sci fan. I’m sure it would entail 50% of anything I watch and read.

Alex: “Questions for Ian Brock: 1) What advice would you give to an aspiring Production Designer?”

IB: Hi Alex. If I was starting up, I’d be sure to to have strong computer skills in modelling in a 3d or virtual reality environment to develop concepts. I’m still doing hand sketch with tear sheets. Some designers use models but I’m amazed by what the concept artists I work with are doing and the various methods they use.

The tutorials available online and through deviant art are a great source of inspiration and technique. A good knowledge of scenic construction, fine art, cinematography ,lighting and the history of film are all very handy.

Just spending time on set to understand how everyone works and their various jobs is invaluable as well.

"2) What tips would you give for success?”

IB: Keep knocking on doors. Everyone gets that you’re looking for work and 99% of us did it so should be accommodating. It’s to our advantage to get the most talented people on our crew.

I started out doing low budget movies and rock videos. They are a great way to learn how to be resourceful and allow for a lot of individual input.

If you aren’t somewhere that has a film business, you’ll have to get creative on your own. I learned as much about set design and lighting doing theatre as I have working on films.

“3) If you could re-design the set of any old, classic movie, which movie would that be and how would you re-design the set?”

IB: That’s a crazy question. I’d never presume to do a makeover, but I’d love to redo a few of the movies I’ve worked on – knowing what I do now.”

jez: “Question for Ian: is there something you look for in an idea or a piece of art that makes you say, “Yes, this is for that show (/vehicle/ship/etc)” or is there more of getting everything together choosing between them…The show’s consistently beautiful, thatnkyou too.”

IB: Hi Jez. Thanks. Once I start designing something I seem to spin everything around that I see to see if applies to the things I’m working on. Generally for sci fi we start sketching and build it from scratch and then embellish with purchased or repurposed found objects.

I’m a big proponent of recycling sets and often just wander our stash of materials and recreate something new from that. I often look for inspiration in old design and “how to” books as well as rooting through old warehouses and many yard sales.

TheOtherOne: “Hello Ian. Thank you and your great team for all the fantastic work on Dark Matter! Please may I ask: Is there any Production Designer/Art Director past or present whose work you greatly admire and why?”

IB: Hi TheOtherOne. I’m a great fan of the concept artist Syd Mead. His vehicles and environments have inspired me for years.

“When not at work, do you sketch or paint?”

IB: I used to sketch all the time but I tend to do other things now. I get to be creative at work so I don’t need that outlet as much.

“Which architectural and/or interior design period/style is your favourite?”

IB: For some reason the round furniture and cars of the late forties have always been my favourite period. Must be something that I’m nostalgic for.

“What is your favourite anecdotal tale you tell at social gatherings?”

IB: Ha – trick question. I tend to reflect on things that happened that in the recent past that made me laugh. Like this question!!

“Thanks for taking time to answer our questions. It’s much appreciated”

IB: You’re welcome.

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April 10, 2017 - Part 2


Walter Stevens: “Can you break down the process of building a set? Step #1: You get the script…”

IB: Hi Walter.

Script
Conceptual issues posited by the script – characters and environments.
How can you assist creating the writer’s, producer’s and director’s visions of the story? Breakdowns of requirements.
Work up a basic design.
Get approvals.
Hand off rough sketches to a concept artist or go straight to set designer with a plan of attack.
Draw the set / revise and annotate.
Budget budget budget
schedule schedule schedule

Get drawings to every department involved in the build.
Order materials, specialty items etc.,
The whole team tackles whatever things we are building

And we follow it through to the shoot.

Dallas Marshall: “No questions for Ian, just this comment: You and your Art Dept are BRILLIANT! Gorgeous, brilliant work. I bow to your abilities.”

IB: Thanks!

Randomness: “Some questions from me! 1. How would you describe your experience working on Dark Matter for three seasons now?”

IB: Really great. It just keeps getting more interesting for me. We are a well oiled machine and Joe and Paul are ridiculously talented and savvy in their world of sci fi.

It seems to get easier as you know what the feel of the show is and what does and doesn’t work well – unlike the tentative steps you might take in a first season.

“2. Is there anything you’d like to see in Dark Matter that you perhaps wouldn’t have the budget(yet) for?”

IB: Definitely! I’d love to build the kind of massive space ports and shuttle bays that you see in blockbuster movies – and mech suits like Pacific Rim or Avatar.

“3. Are you a foodie?”

IB: Not really- I really like asian influenced food though.

“4. Were you a fan of Stargate before joining Dark Matter?”

IB: Yes and no. I hadn’t kept up with it at all, but I spent the first season going through 1/2 of the 300 or so episodes on Netflix. Universe is my favourite. I really like James Robbins’ ship and the aliens are pretty creepy.

“5. If you were the captain of your own spaceship(Could be any ship from any Scifi show or whatever). Who from the Dark Matter cast, crew etc would you want to crew it?”

IB: Definitely 6. He flies the Marauder particularly well. Or the Alien so there would never be any disagreements.

“6. Thankyou for taking the time to answer the questions, keep up the amazing work. But one final question, what inspired you to be a production designer?”

IB: I guess I always like the “putting on a show” aspect of the job. I used to decorate the school gym in grade 7 sock hops with black light posters and lights to get the mood right – and have never looked back.

Nacisse: “1. Where do you draw inspiration from in designing your sets?”

IB: Hi Nacisse. I get inspired by pretty much everything I see – and I like the challenge of creating something I haven’t done or want to figure out how to do.

“2. What kinds of materials to do source for your sets? Do you ever get creative and use atypical material like egg cartons?”

IB: All the time. I am constantly using things that aren’t really made for anything in the scenic world. Building materials, landscaping materials and packaging materials all come into play.

Sometimes I get raw materials (like sheet aluminum) that I have a hunch will be a great way to get something done for 1/4 of the cost and be totally recyclable.I think we find and repurpose something new in almost every episode. We’ve built a ceiling out of flooring in the episode we’re working on now for instance.

“3. Was Production Design always your career path? If not, what was your first choice?”

IB: I have been designing sets or working on set for my whole career and I still learn something new every day – So it wasn’t ever a fallback option.

Alex: “Some questions for Ian Brock: 1. How do you approach designing a project with so many different aspects as the Dark Matter universe? Do you have a specific designing process that you usually follow?”

IB: I usually get questions trickling in from Joe Mallozzi while he’s developing the story, but it will be without any context or a episode. That always piques my interest and gets the creative process working until the script comes out . I’ll read the script a few times to let it sink in and then I basically try out a variety of ideas based on the conceptual parameters of the show. I’ll talk to Joe and Paul regarding what I’m thinking and what they’re thinking of and then dig into sketching and doing a collage of references that pertain to each set. We are starting to develop a virtual reality approach to our designs so we can let people walk through the designs which is really exciting.

“2. Your job must involve a ton of little details and things to coordinate. How do you keep track of everything? And what about time management?”

IB: We do get a lot of little pieces that all have to come together for a particular set. I work with an art director and an art department coordinator to get everything organized and scheduled.They also make sure everyone has the information they need about a particular set. Everyone in the art department is responsible for ensuring their particular contribution is delivered on time , particularly from outside supplies like metal fabricator and graphics. We track all this and are constantly in communication with each other about pick-ups and shipping things into the show. Occasionally we’ll miss a deadline and have to substitute something at the last minute.

“3. Do you do a lot of research before starting work on a project, like the Raza for example? What kind of references do you work with?”

IB: I worked on and off for about 3 months before I started Dark matter full time developing the layout for the RAZA with the concept artist Bartol Rendulic. We tried many variations of the ship before we locked into our design. We’ve used some of the other prototypes as other ships in the series – so nothing goes to waste.

“Thank you for your wonderful work, and for taking the time to answer these questions!”

IB: You’re welcome.

Aerial: “What was your favorite build so far on Dark Matter? What was your favorite build on any show outside of Dark Matter?”

IB: Hi Aerial. The mess hall and the quarters are my favourites, oddly enough – both designed by Russell Moore during the initial build. My favourite build so far was an art deco hotel for the series “At The Hotel”. No one knew it was a set.

Ponytail: “Question for long-beard Ian… How old is your beard and have you ever gotten it caught in a power tool at work? (I got my long hair caught in electric garden sheers once. Had to take it apart to get my hair out.)”

IB: Hi Ponytail. My beard is only 4 years old and I don’t know what picture you saw but I’ve trimmed it . It was always getting caught in the zipper of my parka.

RichS writes: “Questions for Ian Brock. You must work very closely with the physical props and construction people, are you in charge of the entire process from conception to final construction ?

IB: Hi Rich. I am in charge of the overall design from conception to completion but I work closely with the producers, writers and director of photography to finalize the design of each set. I do get to work with an amazing team of professionals who all are equally responsible for their part in the process and assist with everything from sets and props design, graphics, playback, construction, scenic art and set decoration. I also coordinate with grips, electrics, camera and locations. We are all ultimately servicing the requirements of the script in a group effort.

“Do you feel a tinge of jealousy when you see budgets of 10 million per episode for shows like Westworld?”

IB: YES!

“Do you feel a more limited budget fuels creativity?”

IB: I do. I describe it as the aesthetics of poverty. It’s as much about ideas as what you spend on supplies. It’s why I loved Doctor Who. No matter how crazy things looked you always believed in them.

“What drives your ideas? What do you do for a creative boost when up against a deadline?”

IB: Many ideas just come from the script. When I reach an impasse I’ll pass on it and go onto something else. Walking in the woods or driving seem to be good for refocusing my attention – if the deadline itself isn’t enough of a creative boost.

“How easy is it to decide whether a physical contruct is warranted over doing something on green screen? Are the costs comparable?”

IB: It’s generally pretty easy to decide. They both cost a lot but the ability to do set extensions and unbuildable environments usually tips the balance in favour of green screen. We generally limit those shots to a few key angles as well to keep those costs down.

“Thanks for making Dark Matter look great!”

IB: You’re welcome.

gforce writes: “I wish I could think of a good question to ask Ian. I’m too satisfied I guess to just sit back and enjoy his excellent work.”

IB: Hey gforce – Thanks.

@26mengel: “Question for Production Designer Ian Brock- what has been your biggest design challenge for Dark Matter so far, and did the result of that challenge work out the way you hoped? Have we seen it or will we be seeing it this season?”

IB: Hi @26mengel. We designed and built the Marauder for the first season in about 3 weeks. It was crazy. I love doing the dashboard controls but they are fussy and have a lot of elements in them. I feel it worked out pretty well.

The other big challenge was the Hyperion 8 prison set. It was large and needed set extensions and a big lighting set up. Again – I think it worked out well.

Raza Crew Forever!

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April 11, 2017

Videos: Dark Matter - Ferrous Corp lab graphics

Photos: Noreen Landry, Dark Matter, Craig Wright


I’d like to start off today’s entry with a thank you to Dark Matter Production Designer Ian Brock for an informative and entertaining Q&A. If you haven’t read it, check out yesterday’s blog instalment.

And now, I’d like to open the floor to yet another Q&A, this one with Dark Matter Costume Designer Noreen Landry. Noreen and her team can be credited with all of the fabulous outfits you’ve seen on the show to date – and plenty more you WILL see in season 3 (including a Ryo Ishida outfit that I’m going to steal from wardrobe once the series wraps). So, if you have questions for Noreen, post them in the comments section!

Inside the Ferrous Corp shipyard facility. This baby got LIT UP today!

Oh damn. Anyone recognize this Dark Matter celeb sporting a new look on set?

The camera team gears up for the derbiest sparkerific sequence since Episode 307. And we all know how that one ended, am I right?!

Director of Photography Craig Wright – the new SIX! Photo by Roger Cross.

A great day on set, but the highlight was certainly the visit we received from my favorite execs – Steve Patscheck, Mehrad Noori, and Angel Gomez – from Syfy International, NBC Universal. Smart, positive, genuinely nice guys who also happen to be huge fans of the show. They have a fantastic Dark Matter fan-focused project in the works that you’re all going to love. But more on that in the coming weeks…

Concluding today’s entry with a little playback magic courtesy of 1st Assistant Art Director Sumeet Vats and 2nd Assistant Art Director Victor Mare.

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April 12, 2017

Videos: Dark Matter

Photo: Lulu, Suji


Hunh. So after announcing a fan Q&A for Dark Matter Costume Designer Noreen Landry in yesterday’s blog entry, I saw Noreen on set this morning and gave her the heads up. “You’ll be doing a Q&A on my blog,”I told her.

“I’ve been working on the questions,”she said. “I’ll finally have time to finish them this weekend.”

“Wait,”I said. “How can you be working on the questions if you haven’t received them yet?”

She threw me a look usually reserved for incoherent drunks.

I checked my email later today and, lo and behold, I DID send her a bunch of fan questions back in January.

JANUARY!!!!

Guys, I have an excuse. I’m notoriously forgetful. Growing up, my mother nicknamed me “The Absentminded Professor”. But what’s your excuse??? Seriously, I’m counting on you all to take care of me in my old age and this does NOT bode well.

Okay. Let’s name another episode. We need a title for Episode 311, and your choices are…

Polls close in 24 hours! Tell your friends!

More Dark Matter season 3 graphics magic c/o 1st Assistant Art Director Sumeet Vats and 2nd Assistant Art Director Victor Mare.

Doggy über!

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April 13, 2017

Photos: Dark Matter, Pizza Friday, Dark Matter poll results


Saw this in the breezeway between our two stages this morning. Very on point for Dark Matter’s this season.

A crew gift from the cast – my very own Raza Crew backpack. I just have to buy a suit to match.

Costume Designer Noreen Landry and Executive Producer Jay Firestone go way back to their Lost Girl days.

VFX Producer Kerrington Harper makes herself a small a target as possible during blocking.

Brad, Craig, and Josh – blocking in the Ishida palace.

Pizza Friday! Pizza Friday!

And, oh yeah! We have a new episode title. And this one was close! Your winner is…

Episode 311: The Dwarf Star Conspiracy

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April 14, 2017

Photos: Jodelle Ferland, Akemi, dinner, Tal Aulbrook, Roger Cross, Alyssa Pawlak, Joe Turner, Lulu, Suji


This evening, Jodelle joined Akemi and I for a traditional Thai Good Friday feast…

…if, say, we’d been in Thailand dining somewhere that didn’t really celebrate Easter.

By the time we were finished, Jodelle was ready for bed.

Yesterday was originally slated to be our last day of production on Dark Matter’s third season but, gosh darn it, we had three extra days’ worth of solid material we couldn’t bear to not shoot (especially because it would mean a 14 minute season finale), so we went ahead and scheduled three extra days.

BUT – some crew members had already made plans to leave us on Friday and so, yesterday, we said an early goodbye to some members of our Dark Matter family…

Goodbye to 3rd Assistant Director Tal Aulbrook. Hey, Tal, what’s with the weird pose…

…Oh. Never mind.

And goodbye to stand-in Alyssa Pawlak and A Camera Operator Joe Turner.

And a goodbye to – not pictured – Assistant Hair Pamela Mills who bid us all a fond farewell last night as well.

Until we meet again.

At, say, next Friday night’s wrap party.

Lulu wishes you all a Happy Easter.

Suji too!

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April 15, 2017

Photos: Dark Matter Dinner and Drinks


Dinner at Lee Restaurant: Akemi, Jodelle, Mackenzie, Melissa, Ivon, and Roger.

Lee’s signature 19 ingredient salad – minus the cilantro for Akemi, which puts it at 18.

Out for drinks with Mackenzie, Melissa, and Alex.

Alex’s science experiment cocktail.

My $45 cocktail was served under a glass cloche surrounded by smoking wood chips.

Inside, a hand-chipped ice ball. I dunno. I’m still more of a hot chocolate guy.

Jodelle looking inexplicably Irish as she samples someone’s drink.

Melissa in awe.

Awww. Best of friends, on screen and off.

A rare picture of Akemi and I – photographed through the bottom of Alex’s water glass.

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April 16, 2017

Video: Daddy’s home!!!!

Photo: Joe Mallozzi, Lulu


Daddy’s home!!!!

Exchanged emails with my prospective real estate agent in Vancouver. Apparently, following a brief downturn, the market is picking back up. Once again, we’re in for another round of “Should I or Shouldn’t I?”. If we get that fourth season pick-up, it would make a whole lot of sense to just sell the house in Van, move to Toronto through, hopefully, the end of season 5, and then consider our options then. The prospect of buying a condo in Japan becomes increasingly possible. To be honest, the only thing holding me back are the dogs (having to take that cross-Pacific 10 hour journey). That and the fact that my writing/producing opportunities may be somewhat…scanter there. UNLESS I switch over to writing novels. Maybe a tea cozy mystery series about a retired school teacher and her pet pug? It practically writes itself!

Happy Easter Sunday!

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April 17, 2017

Photos: Dark Matter, Alexandra Ordolis, Brianna Goldie, Natalie, Drew Williams, David Thompson, BaronDestructo


I received a few comments after yesterday’s blog entry in which I considered early retirement to Tokyo once Dark Matter ends. Ideally, in such a scenario, that would be two years from now after the show’s fifth and final season (although certain cast members have already started lobbying for an SG-1-like 10 year run). There is, of course, the possibility of another series (or two) in my future. My military SF pilot is in play and I am actively pursuing the opportunity to revive two classic scifi shows I used to watch as a kid. It’s all very preliminary, but any of the aforementioned would be fantastic projects. Still, in the end, if none of them pan out and Dark Matter is my swan song, I’m satisfied with the mark I’ll have left on SF television – with over 350 hours of produced scifi television to my credit and 100+ hours as a credited writer. All in all, not bad for a comic/anime/SF geek whose Halloween ensembles included Han Solo, Wolverine, and Captain James T. Kirk.

Today, we were shooting in the Ferrous Corp lab. Another amazing set by Production Designer Ian Brock and his team.

I need these screens for my office.

Alexandra Ordolis as Dr. Silas (photo by Renee Chan).

Nyx stunt double Brianna Goldie moonlights on the Ferrous Corp shipyard.

More early goodbyes! Last day for AD and fellow book enthusiast Natalie.

And also for Sound department’s Drew Williams who is, understandably, saddened at the prospect of turning in his boom and doing a slow Charlie Brown shuffle into the sunset.

And a first and final sitdown in post with my old pal David Thompson, a fantastic editor.

Uh, guys! She’s right behind me, isn’t she?

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April 18, 2017

Photos: Joe Mallozzi, Dark Matter


Plotting my next move aboard The Raza. Why, yes, those ARE ninja cat socks. (Photo by Roger Cross)

Okay, gang. Pull up your socks and get ready to vote. We have two more episode titles to choose before season’s end. Today, we pick a title of Episode 312, our penultimate shocker. Your choices are…

Polls will remain open for 24 hours. Vote away!

Another Raza triptych tease courtesy of Playback Operator Greg Whiteside. Can you identify this classic movie?

Tomorrow, it all comes to a close as we wrap production on Dark Matter’s third season!

Finally, today’s blog is dedicated to Birthday Girl Akemi!

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April 19, 2017

Photos: Dark Matter poll results, Ron Murphy, Dark Matter, the Dark Matter Whisky Club, Anthony Lemke


Well, that’s it! That’s a wrap on Dark Matter season 3. Finally, a well-earned rest for our tireless cast and crew.

But there’ll be no respite for yours truly. I have still two more edits, a handful of mixes, a season’s worth of music notes to get through and, starting immediately, a brand new season to plan, arc out, and break. I have three weeks in Toronto and then another three weeks in Vancouver in which to put together my game plan and then the writers’ room reconvenes on June 12th (three days after our double-episode season premiere June 9th at 8:00 p.m.!).

Before that, however, there’s this Friday’s wrap party.

And before Friday’s wrap party, there’s a little Dark Matter special feature I’ll be helping the gang at Syfy International put together for you tomorrow.

Oh, and before I forget – we have a new episode title!

“Episode 38: My Final Gift To You”

Ooooh. Sounds ominous. And maybe a little sad?

Season 3 finale director Ron Murphy in action.

The green screen set-up for the big reveal. Tracking marks for the SLOW PUSH.

Snackington leads the charge on the empanada front.

Setting up the last shot.

The final shot of Dark Matter’s third season.

The last official meeting of the Dark Matter Whiskey Club (Elliot, Norman, Alison, Paul, and Robbie).

We proudly maintain our 17 bottles/season pace.

Thumbs up from Anthony Lemke (THREE). We’re good to go! Home.

I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished this season and can’t wait for you to see it!

A HUGE thank you to our incredible cast and crew. Hope to see you all again later this year for season 4!

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April 20, 2017

Photos: After Dark, Dorota Mitoraj, Joe Mallozzi, Anthony Lemke, Zoie Palmer, Rich Edwards, Kristin Mente, the Dark Matter Whisky Club, Jodelle Ferland, Suji, Syfy International team


How much does the gang at Syfy International love Dark Matter and Dark Matter fandom? So much that they were at the studio all this week, prepping and shooting an aftershow, After Dark, that will premiere following our season 3 premiere on all Syfy International channels.

As a participant in the After Dark segments for our first two episodes, I was required to be in hair & make-up for 8:00 a.m. sharp. After Renee Chan (Key Hair) transformed my run-of-the-mill hairstyle into a true t.v. do, Dorota Mitoraj (Asst. Make-Up) made me t.v.-ready. Pictured above, Dorota shows off her work.

Fellow Episode 301 After Dark guest Anthony Lemke (THREE) shows off his fresh new look – and drops off three boxes of donuts for the crew. What a guy!

Each episode of After Dark will be hosted by Zoie Palmer (Android) and include varied guests – like Anthony Lemke and Rich Edwards, editor of SFX magazine.

A is for Android.

Overseeing today’s action was Kristin Mente (Production Manager, NBC Universal) and the rest of the Syfy International team.

Lots of coverage.

After the first After Show segment, I was asked to record a promo for our fans watching on SyfyDE. This time, it was ME who was receiving direction. “Can you say Hi Germany so it doesn’t sound like a question?”was my favorite. Hello? Germany???

An impromptu meeting of the Dark Matter Whiskey Club.

For the second After Dark instalment, Jodelle Ferland (FIVE) took Anthony’s spot on the couch. And were also joined by Syfy Wire’s Tricia Ennis.

The Episode 302 aftershow also included a segment guest-starring Suji that may or may not make the cut on account of her unpredictability. On the bright side, at least she didn’t poop on set.

The little diva patiently awaits her big scene.

Spoiler alert! Preview pics of The Raza’s newest crew member.

Finally, a huge thank you to the team from Syfy International.

Catch After Dark immediately following all new episodes of Dark Matter this June!