Febrary 20, 2009: Early Returns Are Positive! - Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog

Great news! It looks like I won’t be asked to pack up my office and escorted off the lot for the time being. Rob, who has been spending his days on set since the start of production, called this afternoon to tell me he liked my script. Always good to hear, but especially so given that: a) It’s my first script for a new series with all new characters, b) It’s the all-important first part of the mid-season two-parter, and c) Rob is a pretty tough critic. Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to order that new bookshelf since the other producers have yet to weigh in, among them Brad, an equally tough critic who also happens to be the second half of the team that created the show.

You never can tell. Sometimes, you may feel unsatisfied with a script, only to have the response come back surprisingly positive. Other times, you’ll feel great about a script only to have the response come back overwhelmingly negative. I was having this discussion with Carl today and told him that it never fails – always, halfway through your latest script, those same thoughts crop up in the back of your mind: “This isn’t working!”, “I peaked with my last script and it’s all downhill from there!”, and “Well, it was a good ride while it lasted I guess I can use whatever money I‘ve saved up to buy a bar in a Belize and play out the rest of the string in Central America.”. And, even when you finish the script and you do end up liking what you’ve written, there’s always that smidgen of doubt that leaves you wondering whether you like it because it’s good or whether you like it because you’ve re-read it so many times that what you’re responding to is not so much the quality of the writing as it is its internal rhythm imprinting on you. But you polish it and hand it in anyway, not because you’re eager for feedback, but on the off-chance that you may drop dead of a heart attack or get creamed by a bus before you even get the chance to deliver it, meaning your last script (and final two week’s of your life) would sit forgotten on your laptop amid the countless food pictures, blog drafts, and admittedly hilarious emails cluttering your inbox.

Production Day #3 was again away on location. Monday sees a return to the lot and Stage 5: Icarus Base!

Finally, a reminder to finish up Info quake (David Louis Edelman) because discussion on the book begins on Monday. And start on The Book of Joby (Mark J. Ferrari). And line up copies of Dogs (Nancy Kress), Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? (Brian Michael Bendis), The Big Over Easy: A Nursery Crime (Jasper Fforde), and Poe: 19 New Tales Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe (edited by Ellen Datlow) for the weeks ahead. We’ve got guest authors coming by, so don’t miss out!

Let’s play catch-up with the mailbag:

Belouchi writes: “1.) Can we expect more brillant space ship battles for the upcoming Stargate Atlantis movie?
2.) Will We get to see you making a Cameo appearance in the movie?
3.) Will the Wraith still exist beyond project twilight?
4.) What did John Sheppard mean when he told Todd the Wraith in the Enemy at the gates: “let’s make sure it won’t happen again…”

Answers: 1) I wouldn’t expect anything. That way, you’ll be delightfully surprised. 2) No. 3) Now why would I answer a question like that and deny fans like Das the fun of agonizing over the awful possibilities? 4) Maybe we’ll find out in the movie.

Shirt ’N Tie writes: “Keep meaning to ask, Mr M… what’s the latest on your short story? So, Retirement Home scene done, Brow beating hotel room scene done, what next?”

Answer: I’m past the hotel room browbeating, went for a drive, and have pulled up outside the science center. Big reunion scene upcoming. Then, it’s a startling impromptu visit, a return to the scene, all hell breaks loose, and the revelatory conclusion. Thanks for asking.

Belouchi also writes: “ 1. I was wondering if the Alternate Nanite made Atlantis Team from this Mortal Coil were all killed at the end of the episode?

2. In the Episode Midway, if all the wraith were eliminated would that mean that their Cruiser is still left on that barren pegasus planet that is connected to the Mckay-Carter intergalactic gate system?

3. I was wondering after seeing Enemy at the Gate, Todd says he stole more than three ZPMS, but in Spoils of War we saw that wraith carrying a pouch containing exactly three ZPMS. We assumed three were used and destroyed in the cloning facility, one was used and destroyed on the Super Hive and two were gifted to Atlantis. This doesnt make sense can please explain”

Answers: 1) Yes, they were. 2) If they were all eliminated and didn’t leave anyone behind to man the cruiser then, yes, it’s still out there. 3) You assume that there was only one case, the one you saw.

Les Ferris writes: “According to a couple of sites, Alaina Huffman has been cast as Tamara Jon. Is this true?”

Answer: I followed the links to the sites in question and some of them have posted pictures of Alaina. I think she’s beautiful.

Duneknight writes: “Hey, Joe, since you’re writing for TV, may I ask you what scriptwriting software do you use?”

Answer: Movie Magic Screenwriter.

Sfclaire99 writes: “Ummmm….guest star? I thought Robert was a series lead/regular? Or am I nit picking?”

Answer: Not nitpicking but assuming – that the guest star I’m referring to is Robert. He’s a regular.