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Writers’ Rooms!

Over the course of my almost 12 years of blogging, I’ve often made references to “the writers’ room” as it’s a crucial part of the production process.  But what, you may ask, is the purpose of “the writers’ room”?  What goes on in this storied chamber?

Well, simply put, “the writers’ room” is a gathering of a show’s writers, brought together to brainstorm the narrative elements of the upcoming…

That’s a wrap on our first week of the writers’ room for this new sci-fi series and I do love the way thing are coming along.  We’ve completed our world building discussions and characters arcs and can now look forward to four weeks of spinning and breaking.  I’m curious to see how quickly things move from here.

Now it’s been suggested that I complain too much about lunch so I’d like to switch…

Dinner with the Writers!

Last night, we took a break from the pitching and spinning and spitballing and hatching and devising and scheming and planning and plotting and complaining about lunch to go out for a nice dinner compliments of our hosts (and series Execs) Andrea and Ashley.

I have to admit, I was a little…concerned going into the writers’ room for this show considering the number of voices and the fact that…

September 12, 2018: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Li’L Gotham Batman Day 2018 #1 (cover art by Dustin Nguyen)

Batman: White Knight – Batman Day 2018 #1 (cover art by Sean Murphy)

Domino #6 (cover art by Greg Land)

House of Whispers #1 (cover art by Sean A. Murray)

Orcs & Goblins vol. 3 Gri’im (cover art by Stephane Crety)

Volition #2 (cover art by Omar Francia)

Wasted Space #5 (cover art by Hayden Sherman)

So,…

The World’s Saddest Sandwich!

Today was the second day of the UF Writer’s Room and I’m pleased to report things are coming along nicely.  So far as the show’s creative is concerned anyways.  Lunches, on the other hand, are a work in progress.

While I appreciate the sentiment of catered lunches (“Ooooh, catered lunches!”), I am forced to point out that, for the most part, they range from mediocre to just downright…

Day #1 of the UF Writers’ Room!

Day #1 of the UF Writers’ Room is complete, and what a day it was.

THIS was the view out the boardroom window when I got in this morning following a brisk 30 minutes walk from my place.  Between home and work, my royal blue suit had transformed to a deep ocean blue.  Was this a bad omen?  Was worse to come?

Thankfully, no.  It was one hell of a writers’ room, with some 13 diverse voices in all.…

That New Show…

Well, that’s it.  My extended vacation has come to an end because tomorrow, I start the writers’ room on a new sci-fi series.

I’ll be showrunning but, unlike Dark Matter, this one is not my brainchild.  And the circumstances by which I became involved are rather…unusual.

Several months ago, the Director’s Guild of Canada hosted an event pairing established show runners with up and coming…

Packing it in…and on…

Ice Cream Tayaki at Sukoi.  Choose a flavor (matcha or black sesame), then a filling (red bean, custard, or nutella), then your toppings.  Snap your instagram-worthy pic, then consume.

Avocado toast with duck bacon at Early Bird.  You can have it smashed or sliced.  I opted for the former while Akemi chose the latter which was presented as a beautiful green flower.  I asked “What’s the duck bacon made out of?”assuming it was one of those faux vegan alternatives that taste nothing like the original.  The answer?  “Duck.”  Delicious!

I’m almost reluctant to talk about this recent addition to the Toronto sushi scene for fear it will become insanely popular – but I’ll just go ahead and tell you that the sushi at Jugemu (sourced from all over the world including Japan) is phenomenal.  And considerably less expensive than what you would pay for the same quality fish at some of the city’s other high-end restaurants.

Finally got to check out Koishi Ice Cream and sample melon pan with matcha ice cream.  Magical.

Another terrific addition to the Toronto sushi scene is Narami Sushi which specializes in temaki (hand) rolls.  Akemi was thrilled to order a nigh-impossible to find (in Canada) natto-okra hand roll while I had to order two of the toro and ikura (Japanese tuna belly and Alaskan salmon roe) temaki.

Whenever we’re in the Ossington area, we always drop by Bang Bang Ice Cream where Akemi can enjoy her favorite dessert: the Hong Kong waffle.  I always go for the ice cream sandwich, combining my choice of ice cream with my choice of cookie.  Today, it was birthday cake cookies and banana pudding ice cream.

On our way home, we happened by this newly opened dog-friendly cafe where you can sip a mocha while your pooch enjoys his or her own snack.  I have a feeling Suji and Lulu are going to be regulars at Dogs & Coffee.

It’s been one year since Dark Matter was cancelled…

It’s been approximately one year since Dark Matter was cancelled.

Truthfully, it’s hard to pin down an exact day because syfy never gave us a “Thanks for three years” official announcement, but I like to peg the date at around this time last year when, buoyed by the show’s relatively strong overall viewership, I sold my home in Vancouver and moved to Toronto to finish up what I assumed would be…

September 4, 2018: This Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

Presenting my favorite comic book covers of the week…

Aphrodite IX: Ares (cover art by Sara Knaepen)

Death of the Inhumans #3 (cover art by Kaare Kyle Andrews)

Immortal Hulk #5 (cover art by Alex Ross)

Silver Surfer Annual #1 (cover art by Philip Tan)

Spawn #289 (cover art by Jason Shawn Alexander, Francesco Mattina)

The Dreaming #1 (cover art by June Chung, Jae Lee)

Weapon X#23 (cover art…

Headed to series on another show…

Well, it’s all systems go on this series I’ve been circling for a while

I’ve been in discussion with the show’s creator for a couple of months now, brainstorming his vision and beating out a rough ten episode first season narrative arc.  This Monday, the writers’ room convenes for a 4-5 story breaking session.  Would love to tell you more, but I’m going to defer to the decision makers and get…

Dark Matter’s Android

Some thoughts on Dark Matter‘s Android played by the lovely and talented Zoie Palmer…

When I originally developed the idea for the series that would become Dark Matter, I envisioned Android a lot differently than the character who ended up on our screens.  For one, the character was envisioned as male.  In the comic books, he was less childlike than the final t.v. version and more akin to a…

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to introduce themselves and offer up a little backstory to their hitherto mysterious online personas.  Keep ’em coming!

And now, back to the con…  

We started with a tour of Artists’ Alley where I met up with fellow Montreal native Louie De Martinis who is gearing up for the release of his self-published comic Blood And Sand.  Could there be a collaboration in our future?  Loui De Martinis Art

Me: “Is there a difference between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z?”

Outraged Akemi, suddenly sitting bolt upright: “Is there a difference between Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis?!”

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After some three hours of the South Hall, we were headed towards North Hall when I heard someone call: “Mr. Mallozzi!”  Assuming it was the police, I was about to make a run for it – but it turned out to be two long-time Stargate fans, Lee and Andrew Portello, who actually recognized me from the blog.  Great meeting you guys!

At North Hall, I said a quick hi to the ever-popular Jason Momoa, did a quick perusal, then headed home with my three super villain-themed t-shirts, no awesome new cufflinks to add to my collection, but a few signed books –

Akemi and I capped off the night by having dinner with my friend (author, and comic book writer) Marjorie M. Liu and her artist on the award-winning Monstress, Sana Takeda.  I was lovely reconnecting with Marjorie, and equally lovely getting to know Sana.  Here’s hoping we get to do it all over again in Japan soon!

Tonight, I head over to Ivon Bartok’s place for slow-cooked pork and our Fantasy Football draft for A League of Our Own.  Could my Snow Monkeys win a double-championship this season?

Probably.

Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom who went in for emergency surgery yesterday. 

What’s your story?

So, here’s my story…

My name is Joe but I my online handle is BaronDestructo.  I’m a television writer/producer with about 400 hours television to my credit, most of it in sci-fi, some of it in animation.  Over the course of my career, I’ve created, developed, written, story-edited, and produced.  No plans to direct.  I was born in Montreal, moved to Vancouver to work on a little show called Star…

There was a time when I would visit Japan once a year.  But, for the past two years, the fates have conspired against me.

First and foremost are the unfathomable delays we’ve face in attempting to get Akemi’s permanent resident card renewed.  It’s been about ten months that we’ve spent, filling and re-filling and re-re-filling out those forms, sending them in, only to have them sent back for the…