March 22, 2007 - Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog

6:00 a.m.: I get up, take the dogs out, down a cup of matcha, then head downstairs for my 30 minute cardio work-out with the aim to conditioning myself for the big day ahead.

7:05 a.m.: Shower, shave, then spend a good twenty minutes selecting my outfit. I decide to go basic black, subtle pin striping on the suit, black French cuffed shirt with the silver scorpion links, and a tie that best reflects the Scottish flag and so in keeping with today‘s theme. The color scheme isn’t quite right but certainly close enough for the occasion.

8:15 a.m.: I leave for work and can’t help but notice the driving rain. There’ll be some soggy bagpipes out there today.

8:40 a.m.: Into the office where I get yesterday’s onset skinny. Since Martin Wood is Up north shooting scenes from Continuum, Andy Mikita will be stepping in to direct some days from Adrift and Lifeline. Late call today so, when Paul and I visit Andy at the FX stage, he is enjoying breakfast (aka a cup of coffee).

9:15 a.m.: Someone has a clipping of the piece The Province has run on the Save Carson Beckett campaign and today’s planned demonstration. I hear that Marty G. will be heading down to interview the protestors for one of Ivon Bartok’s possible special features.

10:30 a.m.: Paul and I sit down for a chat with Darren and David from Gateworld. Minor spoilers revealed.

11:00 a.m.: Wil and I do a casting session for Travelers. This Larrin casting will be the death of me.

12:00 a.m.: Head up for lunch and am informed by our publicist that “this is going to be a bigger deal than we thought”. A number of news media outlets have taken an interest in the story and are requesting interviews. No sooner do I sit down to eat my chicken salad than I am also informed that Mark Stern and Tony Optican from SciFi are on the lot and will be dropping by the offices. No sign of them.

12:30 p.m.: The demonstration gets underway under the pouring rain. So far, the bagpipers outnumber the protestors. Still no sign of the SciFi guys.

12:50 p.m.: The numbers are a little better, inching up to between 25-30 demonstrators.

1:12 p.m.: A bus pulls up. Reinforcements arrive! The crowd swells to a little over 100. Jason (aka. Ronon Dex) puts in an impromptu appearance. Where are the SciFi guys?

1:16 p.m.: Rachel (aka Teyla Emmagon) makes a surprise visit and chats with the fans. By this time, the press has arrived: CBC, CITY TV, UPI.

1:20 p.m.: Through my window, I spy David Hewlett (our Dr. McKay) working the crowd as cameras roll. Martin Gero is also out there interviewing the demonstrators while Ivon Bartok captures it all for a future special feature. I put out an A.P.B. on the SciFi guys and start organizing a search party.

1:25 p.m.: I head down with Lawren assuming umbrella-boy duties, shielding me from the rain as I snap pics of the fans. I chat with the SaveCarsonBeckett campaign organizers – Tara, Anise, and Jennifer – who call me on my off-hand comment to the Province newspaper in which I marvel at the campaign’s ability to drum up press, essentially promising that if they can get their story on Access Hollywood or Entertainment Tonight (Entertainment Tonight Canada doesn’t count) that I would write Carson into at least two episodes in the back half of season four. The gauntlet has been thrown. I am treated to a mountain of Scottish shortbread cookies, chat with the media about the event, and then, when everyone is feeling good and their guard is down, I order the attack dogs released. They chase everyone back to the buses except for one slow-moving fan who goes down and disappears beneath the ravenous pack. I think he’s a goner and then, almost a full minute later, he rises up out of the hound cluster like a swimmer breaking the surface of the water. With surprising vigor and ignoring the snapping jaws, he manages to reach the bus and pull himself aboard, one of the dogs still clamped to his haunch. Fan and dog disappear into the bus that quickly motors off, beating a hasty retreat. If this dog is found, please return it to the Bridge Studios as he is the property of Stargate Atlantis Productions.

2:00 p.m.: We discuss Alan’s Tabula Rasa rewrite. How could Lorne top his barefoot scene in Doppelganger? Well how about this meaty role? Oh, and poor Katie. Also, it turns out the guys from SciFi weren’t on our lot but the Eureka lot. They’ve been held up and will be in between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.: We discuss tonight’s schnitzel plans. To show: Robert Cooper, Alex Levine, Carl Binder, Alan McCullough, Ivon Bartok, Lawren Bancroft-Wilson, and myself. We receive word that the SciFi guys were held up yet again but will be arriving shortly.

3:45 p.m.: We talk to Paul Weber, our L.A. casting agent, regarding the Larrin part. Lots of interesting potential candidates. Meanwhile, Paul suggests that one of the local actresses who auditioned today, while not right for Larrin, would make a perfect Ara in Reunion. Genius.

4:08 p.m.: Call mom, talk to sis, receive word: the SciFi guys aren’t coming. Which reminds me – maybe I should call off those search parties.

5:30 p.m.: I leave work. On my way out, I am told that the SciFi guys will be coming tomorrow. No, really. I head home to feed the dogs who are no doubt impatiently awaiting my arrival – and their dinner.

6:30 p.m.: Dinner at Budapest Restaurant, the place for schnitzel in Vancouver. The seven of us enjoyed three Transylvania Platters (each of which included three types of schnitzel – veal, pork, and chicken, sausage, cabbage rolls, roast potatoes, and spatzle) and a sausage platter. Although, technically, they could have served ten, the seven of us managed them fairly well – and still had room for various Hungarian desserts: plum dumplings, sour cherry and poppy seed streudel, apple streudel, and something I don’t remember the name of but included cake, whipped cream, nuts, and chocolate. Check out me two-forking the streudel.

Mailbag –

GrapesofWraith writes: “Because SG-1 is not in full production as a television series, has the atmosphere at the office changed since last year?”

Answer: Not really. It’s still very much a fun atmosphere although with only half the usual amount of episodes to produce things are admittedly a little more relaxed.

SmileyFace06 writes: “What’s your favorite comic book based movie? What’s least favorite? Which one currently in production are you most looking forward to seeing?”

Answer: Favorite – The first Spiderman movie minus the metallic Green Goblin. Least favoritte – Any of the Batman movies prior to Batman Begins. One I’m most looking forward to – Watchmen and 30 Days of Night.

Blaine Nielsen writes: “I was wondering, are you a big fan of BBQ?”

Answer: Am I ever! There’s a place in town called The Memphis Blues Barbecue House that serves something called an Elvis Platter. It includes: pork ribs, riblets, smoked sausage, Cornish hen, brisket, pulled pork, chili, cornbread, and fries.

Anonymous #1 writes: “If a fan, like myself, wants to share an idea or two concerning the creation of a future episode for season 5 of SGA, where might he send a draft of the brainstorm.”

Answer: Sorry to say but, for legal reasons, we can’t look out outside submissions.

Peter writes: “Ok, since you guys doesn’t seem to mind critiquing each other, would you mind telling us your favorite script from each writer over the years?”

Answer: 2010 (Brad), Meobius II (Robert Cooper), Duet (Martin Gero), Irresistible (Carl Binder), Line in the Sand (Alan McCullough).

Peter also writes: “Do you ever visit the thread at Gateworld that talks about your blog?”

Answer: Only if someone gives me the heads up that there’s some interesting reading.

Majorsal writes: “But you do get nice/complimentary letters too, right? (please say yes)”

Answer: I believe we received a complimentary letter in January. Or that may have been a sweepstakes entry. I can’t remember.

Crazymom writes: “That navy/blue paisley tie near the top looks like it would make a strong statement, but I’m not sure it would it would rise to the badass level.”

Answer: In the end, that’s the one I decided to go with. It was suitably badass.

Crazymom also writes: “GeekBoy is deep into The Count of Monte Cristo at the moment, strangely enough.”

Answer: Once he’s done, have him check out Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man, a scifi version of the classic.

Vaberella writes: “1) Why did you choose John to be in the Air Force rather than any other military division? 2) Would John’s father be in the Air Force too, or another division? Would we find out in S4? You can 8 ball me.”

Answer: 1) Stargate has a long, happy history with the U.S. Air Force and it felt like a natural fit. 2) He would probably be in the Air Force and it’s possible we may find out in season 4.

Spazzyd writes: “ Do you also have a cane or walking stick with a serpent’s head at the top?”

Answer: I’m ashamed to say I don’t. Working on it though.

Anonymous #2 writes: “ “And speaking of Carl, he was in my office this morning discussing his early back half story (which I personally covet) that is going to be a blast (pending actor availability of course).” Can you tell us if the actor in question was a member of SG-1? Please be Daniel, please be Daniel, please be Daniel.…”

Answer: Sorry, not Daniel.

Rose writes: “And the mention of Kolya prompts me to ask, who is your favourite SGA bad guy?”

Answer: I’m a big fan of Michael. Especially this year.

Anonymous #3 writes: “What is your favorite episode of sga from a viewer’s perspective, in the sense that you would have to put yourself in our shoes and why?”

Answer: As a fan of the show, I’d go with The Storm and The Eye. Lots going on.

Anonymous #4 writes: “I wanted to ask you if you ever were planning in coming back to your hometown and give a seminar on your experience working with Stargate…”

Answer: If I was asked to give a seminar and we could work out the dates – sure, I’d do it.