December 30, 2007

Over the course of a given season, I may do anywhere from 30 to 50 interviews. Given the choice, I always prefer a face to face with the interviewer as it allows for an amiable, relaxed, and fairly straight-forward conversation. Steve Eramo is a guy who has interviewed me countless times and it’s always a pleasure to talk to him because he knows the show, he does his homework, and he always comes prepared. While we talk, he’ll have his digital recorder on, recording the conversation for later reference. His Stargate articles make for interesting, informative and, above all else, comprehensible reading. If I’m unable to meet with an interviewer, I prefer to go the email route. They can send me the questions, give me about a week, and I’ll send them back my answers. This is the process I tend to prefer when doing interviews for fan sites as it’s quick and simple, and I can ensure my answers are hopefully enlightening, occasionally humorous and, most important of all, intelligible. Although I’m usually not a fan of live interviews, I have done more than a few over the years and, as time has gone on, I’ve grown more comfortable with them. The radio interview I did for HiSciFi last year is a great example. It was fun, relaxed, and - here’s the key - coherent. Which brings us to my least favored means of conducting an interview: the dreaded phoner. The problem with phoners is that they put you at the mercy of the potentially crappy call quality and the potentially crappy recording of that potentially crappy call quality. Words are dropped and misinterpreted, leading to confusion and, every so often, quotes that are the exact opposite of their original intent. This, in turn, leads to all sorts of problems - like the that time I was credited with a controversial quote that actually belonged to my writing partner Paul, or the recent interview I did for SliceOfSciFi, a transcribed phoner in which I sound alternately imbecilic, inebriated, and outright insane. I’m sure the gang at SoSF did their best trying to make sense of what was said, but I contacted them after the initial interview was posted and asked them to double-check a couple of the more egregious errors (Like the quote that made it sound like Weir was coming back full-time. A nice sentiment but not what I had said). Still, even the revised version is problematic in some respects (Like that truly terrible pic of me. But I suppose I should consider myself fortunate. Do a search of Martin Gero and you’ll see the pic used for him was actually a cropped gag photo he took a last Christmas of him and his girlfriend in matching holiday sweaters sitting on Santa’s lap) so I’d like to clarify a few points for those who have read the interview and assume I’ve somehow lost it. Without even touching the meandering run-on-sentences and sentence fragments that don’t make a whole lots of sense…

“When he pushed out the idea…”

- Should read “when he pitched out the idea…”

“All that has obviously soured certain fans towards Joe and when certain fans are unhappy they will be very vocal.”

- That’s “the show” and not “Joe”. I’m assuming fans don’t hold Joe F. responsible for the cast changes. On the other hand, the Joe in question could be me which would make sense given that I can be held responsible for the cast changes, but I usually don’t refer to myself in the third person.

“when you factor in DVR and such and the lead off viewers across the board…”

- That’s “bleed-off” and not “lead off”.

“…it worked great for us in the beginning especially in the ranks of the Wraith…”

- No idea. Sorry.

“…vengeance I declare! A reign of fiery destruction on the heads of all those who would doubt or oppose my creative vision! The unbelievers shall be punished and made to regret their ways!”

- Silly. That should read “rain” and not “reign”.


Hey, I took my mom out for spam the other night. Well, not exactly spam but pretty damn close. We went out for hotpot at HKYK in Richmond and, while perusing the menu of dunkable items, I came across “luncheon meat”. How interesting, I thought. I wondered what satay-simmered luncheon meat would taste like? As it turned out, exactly like luncheon meat. We also ordered watercress, sliced pumpkin, lotus root, chives, hand-cut fatty beef, pork neck, pork dumplings, and chive dumplings. Surprisingly, the near-spam was the only thing that appealed to mom. Well, the near-spam and the yang chow fried rice I ordered for her when it looked like she wasn’t going to eat much of anything.

Finally, I’m pleased to announce that with today’s win by the Cleveland Browns win (coupled with a Tampa Bay loss - sorry, Paul), I am the official winner of our office dark horse pool. I will probably blow the $100 on books, dvd’s, or a pricey appetizer.

Today’s pics: Mom pretends she’s enjoying herself, mmmm luncheon meat.

Let’s catch up on the mailbag -

Annie from Freemantle writes: “Do you CG erase any urban construction that’s not meant to be in the shot ?”

Answer: Yes, if need be we will have our visual effects department effect any necessary cosmetic changes.

Morgia a ecrit: “Est-ce que tu lis un peu en français ?”

Answer: Oui, j’ai lu Asterix et La Serpe D’Or le mois derniere.

Sort of translation: Yes, I read in French. Just the other wake, I read Asterix and the Golden Sickle.

DeeinSouthAfrica writes: “ doesn’t your mom have a cellphone? Surely she could have ducked into the bathroom and called you?”

Answer: She does but either never carries it with her or doesn’t bother to answer it.

Padawan Aneiki writes: “When you’re shooting an episode, how do you decide to block each scene?”

Answer: That is the director’s job. He envisions how the scene will play out and then, on the day, takes the actors and crew through the blocking scheme he has in mind.

Josh Hancock writes: “1) do you think there might be a possibility that series 5 of SGA might have to have some extra episodes to help fill in the slots where programmes will be missing due to the writer’s strike? 2) Will there be more Lanteans in the new series?”

Answers: 1) No. We will be producing the usual 20 episodes this season. 2) No idea.

Morgia a ecrit: “Ce que je me demande c’est si une personne de votre équipe (ou extérieur) est capable de vous critiquer (toi et les autres scénaristes) lorsque vous écrivez vos épisodes.”

Reponse: Quand un scenario est ecrit, il est critiqué par les autres scenaristes, puis récrit avant que le studio, SciFi, le directeur, et les acteurs offrent leurs avis.

Sort of translation: After a script is written, it is critiqued by the other writers before being re-written - at which point the studio, SciFi, the director, and the actors weigh in with their comments.

Arctic Goddess writes: “Now that you are using a new blog location, what happens regarding the millionth poster? Is that now finished?”

Answer: Nope. I’ll simply take the combined stats of both blogs into account. 812 152 and counting…

Shiningwit writes: “With The Ark of Truth having been prematurely leaked do you know who it was that leaked it and what course of action has been taken?”

Answer: That is currently being investigated.

Promogirl writes: “So are there any of the new mid-season shows you’re looking forward to? Maybe like The Sarah Connor Chronicles?”

Answer: None I’m actually looking forward to, but a few I’ll definitely be checking out.

Sulien writes: “Heya Joe, just dropping in to ask if you got my email with the link to the South Pole Winterover blog.”

Answer: Sorry about that. I did check it out and was meaning to comment, but got distracted. Awesome air drop pics.

M4ndy writes: I think Tyrion is the best character in the Song of Ice and Fire series.”

Answer: Yep, he’s my favorite.

Chelledb writes: “We would like to know if it is at all possible that either Major’s Lorne, Marks and Davis could be promoted in the near future.”

Answer: It’s possible. Stay tuned.

Poundpuppy29 writes: “I have a question about Continuum do Daniel & Vala have any emotional moments with each other?”

Answer: If you mean emotional in the way I think you mean, then no

Poundpuppy29 also writes: “ Are you doing any commentaries for season 4?”

Answer: If I have time, I certainly will. But then again, I think I’ve pretty much covered everything in my post-episode write-ups

Sherry writes: “So far, I’m at the point where I’m getting a little annoyed at Jezal (such a self-absorbed ass…T_T) and am liking Gloktaa lot depsite him being not so very nice… All in all, I’m liking the characterization and the story is definitely an enjoyable read.”

Answer: They’re flawed characters alight. Glokta is my favorite.

Fsmn36 writes: “I was wondering, have you read any part of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series?”

Answer: Not yet.

bex chaplin writes: “anyway i was wondering in you knew of anwhere to get english chocolate thats not gonna cost a bomb. the galaxy chocolate cos me $6!!!! back home its £1.20 or $2.40 can you help a fellow chocaholic????”

Answer: English chocolates? Hmmm. Well, there is a place on the corner of West4th and Arbutus, the Candy Aisle I believe, that sells all sorts of imported candy including Lion bars and the like.

Gate Strider writes: “I loved, loved, loved “The Lies of Locke Lamorra” and would re-read it in a heartbeat…”

Answer: I agree. It was a lot of fun. And, apparently, Scott is a fan of the show (provided he’s still watching and not writing 24/7 now). Check out the second book in the series: Red Seas Under Red Skies.