Sweet, soft-spoken, yoga enthusiastic. You’d think I was describing myself but, in fact, I’m talking about the wonderful Alice Foster, Dark Matter‘s Production Coordinator. And coordinate she does, juggling everything from travel and accommodations to – oh, just about everything else – with dextrous aplomb and unflagging cheerfulness. Who got me this apartment conveniently close to a dog park? Alice! Who saw to it that I was picked up from my place and transported to the airport to catch a flight to New York where I met with SyFy and then caught a flight back to Toronto and transported back to my place, all within a 15 hour period? Alice! Who arranged the Dark Matter cookie exchange? Alice!

Above: a shot of the elusive Alice Foster

Captured in her natural habitat, surrounded by files, notebooks, schedules and tea, Alice Foster is the production’s equivalent of Siri – ever-pleasant and full of answers!

Mailbag:

dasndanger writes: “Whatever happened to our Dancing With the Dark Matter Stars?”

Answer: Our resident dancer’s sword has been doing all of the singing and dancing lately. Go bug him about it: https://twitter.com/AlexMallariJr

gilazaria writes: ” Those “Vegan Peanuts Butter Chocolate” cookies that Akemi made sound delightful. As a full time vegan foodie, would you mind sharing the recipe?”

Answer: According to Akemi, she followed a recipe she found here (http://detoxinista.com/2014/05/no-bake-peanut-butter-cup-bars-vegan/). Meanwhile, you can check out Akemi’s culinary capers on her youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/akemiaota) – like this one of her and the dogs enjoying home made popcorn for the first time:

arcticgoddess writes: “Joe, as the top guy/Show-Runner, you must be very indispensable to the making of the show. What happens if you were to get sick? Would you get wheeled into work, hospital bed and all?”

Answer: Don’t be silly. Of course not. Production would simply move to the hospital (for a series of medical-themed episodes) until I’ve fully recovered.

Tam Dixon writes: ” If you’ve completed over 100 episodes…Does that mean you’re five years ahead?”

Answer: Yep. All done. I’ve come back in time to relive the first year of Dark Matter‘s immensely successful 10+ season run. Good times.

Randomness writes: “Could you ever see the crew of the Raza visiting a ridiculously advanced race of aliens?”

Answer: Oh, sure. Anything is possible. This is science fiction after all.

Randomness writes: “Will the crew of the Raza face any dangers from the cosmos itself? Similar to how the Destiny faced a binary pulsar.”

Answer: Yes. In fact, very early in season one.

Randomness writes: “Memory loss stories can be fun, Stargate had a few, mostly caused by a virus of some kind, can we expect similar from Dark Matter?”

Answer: The entire series is, in essence, one long, winding, surprise-filled memory loss story.

Elminster writes: “When would be a good time to drop in to take you for a Hot Chocolate? Perhaps even you and Amanda?”

Answer: Sadly, what with these 12 hour days, our “going out” ventures have been seriously curtailed.

Airelle writes: “question, episode numbering? starts at 101,102 etc, is there a reason, its not 1, 2, etc?”

Answer: It’s just a preference, something we used to do on Stargate as well. Makes it easier to identify the individual episodes within a particular season.

Ponytail writes: “First 3 episodes and 3 different directors. Now throw in different editors who put it all together. Is this customary and why, and how do you keep the same look, feel, and continuity with different eyes behind the camera?”

Answer: Unless you’re shooting a mini-series, it is customary to use multiple directors and editors. Production schedules are staggered. While one director is shooting, another is prepping the next episode and, when the time comes for the prepping director to shoot his/her episode, another director will be starting prep on a new episode. Everyone involved in the production, from producers through cast to crew members ensure continuity.

Line Noise writes: “How accurate do you have to be with episode lengths? I notice that most shows vary in length by up to a minute or more episode to episode. Do you have much leeway?”

Answer: We have absolutely no leeway and have to be accurate on all episode lengths. Of course, the final run time will depend on the broadcaster. In rare instances, say certain shows on HBO, run times can vary.

Line Noise writes: “Roughly how many times will you watch an episode before it’s finished?”

Answer: Between the dailies, various cuts, mixes, and color correct sessions, I’d say roughly a dozen times.

FargateOne writes: “No music in your sci-fi series ????”

Answer: Yes to music.

whoviantrish writes: “What other Stargate alums?”

Answer: Oh, THAT actor and those directors.

Lily writes: “When can we get some Dark Matter swag?”

Answer: Soon! Soon!

Keith writes: “I don’t know how much you still need to keep under wraps, but can you further define the tone of the show? What will the levels of sex, violence and language be in relation to other shows?”

Answer: In terms of tone, I’d liken it to Cowboy Bebop, Stargate, Firefly. Sex and violence will be no more predominant than they were in the aforementioned shows.

Keith writes: “Also, are you aiming for a very “grounded” series, or are farther afield concepts such as time travel, alternate dimensions, higher beings, magic, etc fair game?”

Answer: Well, on the one hand the show is set in a future where a space-faring humanity has gone out and colonized distant worlds. No aliens – yet. No time travel or alternate dimensions – but who knows. Definitely no higher beings or magic.

livingforcreativity writes: “How many former co-workers moved to Toronto (full time for the duration) to work on Dark Matter?”

Answer: One – our VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson. Oh, and one more on the way!

livingforcreativity writes: “Do we have a US TV premiere date? Do we have a second season pickup?”

Answer: SyFy has yet to announce an official premiere date for the series. As for a second season, we won’t hear about that until the Fall. 🙁

Ponytail writes: “Is Akemi watching The Bachelor?”

Answer: Alas, no. She says she’s not watching because she can’t pronounce it.

Jenny Horn writes: “where does Natalie get her socks?”

Answer: I believe she’s part of some weird Sock of the Week club.

Ponytail writes: “What are the chances of getting Jason Momoa to guest star in an episode?”

Answer: Would love to have Jason on the show but, from what I hear, he’s been kind of busy lately.

JeffW writes: “Every show seems to have their characteristic FTL jump styles, so is there anything your can tell us about your planned FTL jump effects?”

Answer: They’re differ from the ones we used to do on Stargate. In fact, they’re markedly different from anything I’ve seen on live action SF.

JeffW writes: “And what is that half-moon gazing ball that Lawren is holding used for?”

Answer: The ball is used to measure the lighting of a scene so that the VFX team can match it later in their work.

baterista9 writes: “Will we see any other fan-inspired names in DM, or names inspired by Toronto neighborhoods?”

Answer: No names inspired by Toronto neighborhoods? But fan-inspired names? Maybe.

Anas Ben writes: “my question is plz do u think the visuals re gonna be great?”

Answer: Yes, the show’s visual effects will be awesome!

Airelle writes: “Are you tired of winter?

May we have the bourbon cookie recipe?(thanks Akemi)

How are Jelly,Bubba and Lulu? love the videos!!

What if anything are you doing for Valentines day?

Welcome to Lawren!! silver balls,,hmmmm…

How is Baron Destructo? Have not heard from him in a while.”

Answer: Yes, very tired of winter. I posted the bourbon cookie recipe here:

https://josephmallozzi.com/2014/12/21/december-21-2014-drunken-southern-uncles-that-bourbon-and-brown-butter-cookie-with-white-chocolate-chunks-recipe/

The dogs are great. They’re too are hating the winter. What did we do for Valentine’s Day? Check yesterday’s entry. Baron Destructo is fine. He’s been busy. World domination is hard work.

gforce writes: “I was wondering how Jelly is doing with her paw and if you’ve heard any more about the “mass” or whatever it was that the imaging showed. Also, was Lulu’s bed-stealing behaviour something she just picked up since you were in TO?”

Answer: Jelly’s paw is better. I believe Lulu’s bed-stealing behavior is fairly recent.

Chad writes: “Will there be any online streaming options for your show?”

Answer: Oh, definitely. Yes.

Mike A. writes: “Are you finding that you’re enjoying the differences and liberties you’re taking with the DM show canon versus that of the DM comic?”

Answer: Dark Matter was always developed as a t.v. series first, so the comic book followed the show concept, not vice-versa. Ultimately, the comic and the t.v. series both follow the premise, characters, and story arcs conceived several years ago. So far, no divergence.

Mike A. writes: “Is it something you looked forward to in eagerness, or just realized would need to happen anyway and never really worried about it?”

Answer: I certainly looked forward to it with eagerness when it was in development, then assumed it was dead, then regained my enthusiasm when Exec Producer Jay Firestone put together the deal that made the show a reality.

Mike A. writes: “How’s Vanessa?”

Answer: Great. Last I heard she was snow shoeing in -45 weather.

SpaceFreakMicha writes: “Do you have any photo of Editor Brad Rines in your collection?”

Answer: Hmmm. Maybe back in Vancouver. But if you google him, a couple of photos will come up – including some from his own blog site.

shinyhula writes: “Is this weeks announcement going to include the trailer?”

Answer: The trailer? We’re still working on the edits of episodes 101 and 102 and are still several months away from finished VFX! Patience, patience…

Alex Felix writes: “Will Dark Matter have any alien civilizations and if so, will they play a major part on the show?”

Answer: Not for its first season – but who knows what the future holds?

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