Behind the Gate

Joseph Mallozzi

By Wolfen Moondaughter
May 1, 2007

As our more regular readers may already know, while I was a fan of the theatrical film Stargate, particularly in regard to the character of Daniel, I didn't really have an opportunity to watch the show based on said movie, Stargate SG-1, until I moved a few years ago. Even then, I had missed so much already, I only watched with half my attention.

It took the episodes featuring the character of Vala Mal Doran at the start of season nine — in particular, her chemistry with Daniel — to really hook me, but ever since then, I've been trying to play catch-up by watching reruns of previous seasons. Now I know I'd missed something brilliant! But though Vala herself didn't even initially appear until season eight, Vala and Daniel are still my fave characters — so of course I was excited when I heard spoilers about "Memento Mori", the episode where Vala got kidnapped. When that ep aired, it (obviously) became one of my very fave eps.

More recently, while looking for spoilers regarding the Daniel/Vala ship, I stumbled across a link to the blog of Joseph Mallozzi. In case you haven't guessed, he co-wrote "Memento Mori", as well as a number of other eps on my faves list, such as "The Curse", "Window of Opportunity", "The Ties that Bind", "Collateral Damage", "Ripple Effect", "Camelot, Part 2", "Morpheus", "200", "Counterstrike", and "Family Ties". He's also written for Stargate Atlantis, and is an Executive Producer for both shows.

Anyway, I checked out Joe's blog, asked for an interview, and crossed my paws ....

Sequential Tart: Judging by your blog, I think you could have easily become a career travel-writer or a food critic. How did you decide to become a script-writer? And was there ever anything else you wanted to be instead?

Joseph Mallozzi: I wanted to be a writer as far back as elementary school when I was penning ridiculous little horror and sci-fi stories. I continued writing through high school with an aim to one day making a living writing novels. Crazy, no? Finally, after much plugging away, I wrote my first novel and handed it out to friends to get some feedback. One of them told me that he imagined it would make a great movie. As I mulled over the notes I'd received and the daunting rewrite ahead, I decided to take a break and picked up Syd Field's book on screenwriting. It was in learning the craft of fashioning a script that it became obvious my talents were better suited to the more visual film medium. I finally came to the realization that, while I loved to read, a career as a novelist was beyond me. I shifted my focus to scriptwriting and turned that novel into my very first script. In retrospect, it was a horrible script but, without a doubt, much better than that novel.

ST: How did you and Paul Mullie come to be writing partners?

JM: We met in a creative writing class in college. It was the sort of course that many students took assuming an easy time only to discover — too late — the real work involved. It forced us to produce, critique, and learn how to accept constructive criticism. Paul and I struck up a friendship and, years later, decided to try partnering up on a feature script. We've been writing/producing partners ever since.

ST: How did you come to join the writing staff of SG-1 in season 4, and subsequently move up the ladder to snag the moniker of Executive Producer?

JM: Our agent contacted us about Stargate SG-1 which, at the time, was auditioning writers. We did our homework, researched the show, and came up with a handful of pitches. The way Brad and Robert tell it, they were impressed — not so much with the pitches themselves but with their beautifully laid-out presentation. Our first script, "Scorched Earth", proved equally impressive and we were invited to join the staff as producers. Over the years, Brad and Robert gave us the opportunity to become involved in the various aspects of production. We took on increasing responsibilities and, eventually, became Executive Producers.

ST: George R.R. Martin once told me that the changes in title he received during his run on Beauty and the Beast didn't really mean a change in what he did, just that he got more money — would you say that's an accurate assessment in regards to your own experience?

JM: It really depends on the credit and the show I suppose. I've known Executive Producers who contribute little in the way of a show's creative development. Conversely, Martin Gero was practically running his own episodes as a Supervising Producer.

ST: How do you keep track of ten seasons of material? Is there some sort of extended series bible that's constantly updated, to help you look up things about the cultures that have been created for the show, and to avoid continuity problems? Do you find yourself re-watching a lot of episodes? (Or maybe you just keep Peter DeLuise on speed-dial?...)

JM: We rely on each other for most of the background information. Well, each other and Gateworld.

ST: Are you a "know what you write" sort of person or a "write what you know" one? Do you do oodles of research, on either science or ancient cultures, or do you draw more upon your own personal experiences and knowledge base? (Or maybe you're somewhere in-between?)

JM: It really depends on the script. For instance, I did a fair amount of research for season nine's "Ripple Effect", covering everything from black holes and theories on alternate realities to character quirks and backstory elements going as far back as the series pilot. On the other hand, when it comes to the interpersonal moments between the characters, I like to draw from experience.

ST: How does the staff resolve arguments over issues of characterization, the plausibility of science, and matters of historical accuracy?

JM: It really depends. Brad Wright and Paul Mullie are the resident "science experts". When it comes to characterization, pretty much everyone considers themselves an expert.

ST: When writing an episode, how do you take into account factors such as budget and feasibility when creating new weapons, aliens, and alien habitats?

JM: We don't really concern ourselves with budget when we're writing the script. We write what works for the story (within reason) and then worry about it once we're in prep.

ST: Has there ever been an idea for something that the writing staff ran with, that later had to be thrown out or drastically altered?

JM: It's very rare that we'll abandon an idea we've already committed to. In rare instances, alterations need to be made for production reasons (i.e. budget, actor or location availability). Stargate Atlantis season three's "Irresponsible" is a great example. We were supposed to be doing the Stargate version of High Noon but when our "western" location fell through, the story ended up taking place in a quaint Dutch village. For another example, take a look at SG-1 season five's "Summit" which was supposed to feature a storyline involving the Tok'ra Martouf. As I finished up the first draft, I was informed that actor J.R. Bourne would be unavailable for the episode so I had to rewrite the script. Exit Martouf, enter his less camera-friendly symbiote Lantesh.

ST: What have been some of your favorite moments, on either Stargate series? How about moments you weren't terribly fond of?

JM: Favorites: "2010" (Brad Wright) — The future team battles its way to the gate and fall one by one. "Exodus" (Paul and I) — The team blows up a sun, wiping out Apophis's fleet. "Meridian" (Robert Cooper) — Daniel Jackson says goodbye and heads through the Stargate and into the light. "Heroes II" (Robert Cooper) — the tribute to a fallen comrade at episode's end. "Endgame" (Paul and I) — Harriman and a fellow gate technician see a flash, hear a sound, turn and discover the gate is missing. "Moebius II" — the team goes fishing. "Prototype" (Alan McCullough) — Mitchell and Daniel march up the ramp, side by side, emptying their guns into the seemingly impervious Khalek. "Ripple Effect" (Paul and I) — Our team turns the tables on our alternate selves. "Camelot" (Paul and I) — The Ori ships kick the shit out of the allied forces, leaving a helpless Carter floating alone in space amid the devastation. "Morpheus" (Paul and I) — Vala aces the inkblot test. "Uninvited" (Damian Kindler) — Landry demonstrates the Fulvus Whistling Duck call for a dumbstruck Mitchell. "200" (everyone) — the Farscape take-off. "Memento Mori" (Paul and I) — Daniel convinces Vala to come home. "Family Ties" (Paul and I) — An unwitting Teal'c attends a special show at episode's end. "Unending" — Teal'c remains untouched as all is undone. "Rising II" (Brad Wright and Robert Cooper) — Atlantis rises. "Siege II" (Paul and I) — The night sky around Atlantis is lit up as the city comes under attack. "Runner" (Robert Cooper) — Ronon takes on a crazed Ford. "Duet" (Martin Gero) — McKay/Cadman lays a surprise smooch on a stunned Beckett. "Michael" (Carl Binder) — Michael reviews a recording stolen from Beckett's lab and discovers his true identity. "Condemned" (Carl Binder) — A wraith makes a less-than ideal dinner guest. "McKay and Mrs. Miller" (Martin Gero) — Rodney pays his sister and her family a very awkward house call. "Sunday" (Martin Gero) — Rodney says goodbye to a friend. "First Strike" (Martin Gero) — It's bombs away as we take out the Replicator fleet.

Least favorite moments: "The Other Side" — The team is invited to dine with the Eurondans, a race so alien that their ridiculous drinking glasses are almost impossible to drink from. "Seth" — The zat gun works three different ways in three different scenes. "Seth" — For some mysterious reason, the freed followers raise their hoods before filing out of the tunnel, conveniently allowing for Seth to attempt a disguised escape. "Touchstone" — The Polynesian leader with the English accent. "Children of the Gods" — The infamous wrong way travel through the incoming wormhole. "Emancipation" — Take your pick. "Desperate Measures" — The endless hospital search montage. "Failsafe — O'Neill and Teal'c discover Daniel and Carter in the sealed pods and then take the time to remove their space suits before freeing their friends. "The Warrior" — The signal is given. Imhotep has arrived. The other warriors clear out leaving O'Neill to stand, sniff his pits, shrug, and amble off as we END ACT! "Cure" — Teal'c, Jonas, and Zenna finally get around to discovering the tomb was Egeria's — by glancing over and reading the script on the other wall. What took ‘em? "Lockdown" — Carter fills Daniel in on the Russian's dire condition with the ailing Russian lying in the next bed, three feet over, separated only by a flimsy curtain. "Fourth Horsemen II" — Mitchell swims through the air to avoid those invisible wires. "Uninvited" — Reveal the fearsome creature which turns out to look like a reject from the old Monty Python series. "200" — Creepy invisible O'Neill spies on Carter in the shower. "Thirty-Eight Minutes" — The rubber bug. "Misbegotten" — Shots of the wig-sporting wraiths-turned-human give every scene they're in a drag show feel. "Sateda" — Why is that wraith wearing goggles? Is it wraith free swim? "Irresponsible" — 1) Sheppard and Kolya have their showdown surrounded by bystanders who don‘t bother to step out of the way to make room for any errant bullets 2) Oh, by the way, there's some dynamite under the table. 3) Despite being completely surrounded, Sheppard makes a miraculous escape.

ST: Are there any characters or scenarios, on either Stargate series, that you love to write about? Are there any that you prefer to avoid?

JM: Well, it's no secret that I'm not overly fond of the esoteric Ancient storyline. On the other hand, I've always enjoyed writing episodes that afford the opportunity for humor amid the madness. As for the types of stories I enjoy writing — any with a good, colorful villain.

ST: Tell us about a Stargate pitch you've done that never made it to the screen.

JM: I remember pitching a story in which SG-1 travels to a planet whose people worship a boy king protected by a solemn Jaffa warrior. Turns out the boy is a Harcesis child and when word reaches the System Lords, they make a bid to take him with only the team and the boy's Jaffa protector standing in the way.

ST: If you could choose to bring a new actor onto either Stargate series, regardless of length of the role or the budget, who would you like to bring aboard, and what would you cast them as?

JM: Alexandra Holden is an actress who has done terrific work whenever I've seen her. I'd love to bring her on as an "Ancient Specialist", there to help oversee Ancient-derived technologies or civilizations Atlantis encounters. Hugh Laurie would make a wonderfully quirky leader of an alien race with something to deal. Also, I'd love to have Ricky Gervais do a guest spot as a visiting scientist, maybe an old friend/rival of McKay's who has achieved the celebrity status that has eluded the suddenly envious Rodney.

ST: What can we look forward to in upcoming episodes of Atlantis?

JM: Lots of developments, both big and small. Lots of twists, turns, and more than few surprises.

ST: I understand Amanda Tapping will be appearing on Atlantis next season; will she become a regular, or a recurring guest star? Any chance any of the rest of the SG-1 team might visit?

JM: Amanda will be a regular and there is a good chance that another member of SG-1 will be dropping in for a visit.

ST: What else can you tell us about the future of the franchise, particularly about the DVD movies and the possibility of a third series?

JM: They're all in the works. The possibility of more SG-1 movies will be wholly dependent on how well Ark of Truth and Continuum are received.

ST: Tell us about some of the non-Stargate-related projects you've worked on in the past, and if you have anything currently in the works.

JM: Paul and I have several pilot scripts ready to go in the unlikely event Stargate ever ends. Can't give too much away, but two are sci-fi, one is horror, and the other is a dark comedy.

ST: I remember being blown away by the fact that Joss Whedon and several other Buffy writers would occasionally grace the Bronze-Beta message board with a few posts. But you've gone leaps and bounds beyond that, having written a number of very accessible blogs — on fan-run, unofficial sites, no less, fielding questions of all kinds (and therefore making my job as interviewer a hell of a lot harder than I expected)! What prompted you to rub shoulders in the fandom where so many others fear to tread? And have you ever accidentally said something that got you in trouble later?

JM: Are you kidding? I don't think there's a week that goes by when I don't say something that has Stargate fans up in arms.

I waded into the world of fandom prior to my arrival on Stargate as a means of educating myself on the series. These occasional forays turned into regular visits, and the regular visits into an ongoing blog where I can still interact with the fans but don't have to limit myself to the subject of Stargate.

ST: Speaking of hob-knobbing with the fans, do you have any plans to attend any conventions in the next 365 days?

JM: I'll probably be doing Anime Evolution with Martin Gero in August.

ST: As a writer, are their any particular plot devices or character stereotypes that you think have been done to death and make you want to toss your cookies?

JM: God save me from being witness to one more precocious kid.

ST: Do you have any guilty pleasures in film or television?

JM: Survivor and Nip/Tuck.

ST: Is there any show, currently airing or otherwise, that you wish you could have written an episode for?

JM: I'm a latecomer to the series, but I'm loving Doctor Who.

ST: What are some comics, books, shows, movies, and music that you feel are not to be missed? How about anything in those media that should be avoided at all costs?

JM: Books — If you like sci-fi, check out John Scalzi's Old Man's War. I lent it to Brad Wright and David Hewlett and they loved it. If you enjoy fantasy, check out Scott Lynch's first book The Lies of Locke Lamora. I was blown away. Shows — 30 Rock. The funniest comedy on TV. Movies — Hmmm. Sadly, nothing comes to mind. Music — On by The Boom Boom Satellites — if you can find it in North America. Comics — Anything by the Luna Brothers.

ST: Is there any comic title you'd like the chance to write for?

JM: Batman. Hook me up.

ST: Would you ever consider writing a Stargate comic? (Or one of the novels, for that matter?)

JM: I don't have the talent or the patience to write a novel. As for a Stargate comic — possibly.

ST: If you could be any fictional character, superhero or otherwise, who would you be and why?

JM: Would I have to be a hero? I'd rather be a super villain — Dr. Doom in particular. Not only is he the fearsome ruler of his own kingdom, but he also manages to pull off super villain chic with undeniably stylish aplomb.

ST: What are some of your anime faves? Do you prefer subbed or dubbed? And are you into manga/manwha?

JM: My anime library numbers about 3000 DVDs, most of which I've yet to get around to. My favorites? Off the top of my head: Now and Then, Here and There, GTO, Cowboy Bebop, Berserk, Utena, Evangelion, Last Exile, Kino's Journey, Samurai Champloo, Rurouni Kenshin, Azumanga Daioh, Noir, Infinite Ryvius, Trigun, Excel Saga, and Ninja Scroll. Subbed - never EVER dubbed. As for manga — unfortunately, I wouldn't have the time.

ST: Your blog profile interests list "ninja training" and "full-contact origami". You say you love the Japanese depaato Mitsukoshi. You often feature local Asian restaurants. You've shared your travels in Hong Kong, recounting in particular the food you sampled along the way. In the spirit of chicken versus egg, which came first: your fondness for travelling across Asia, your fondness for Asian culture, or your love of Asian cuisine?

JM: My fondness for Asian culture definitely came first although I can‘t remember how or when. Today, this passion encompasses everything from my dining preferences (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese) to the DVDs I watch (J-Horror and anime) to my miscellaneous hobbies (trying to learn Cantonese and Japanese).

ST: How do you eat all that food mentioned in your blog and still stay thin enough to get out your door without any trouble?

JM: I actually follow a fairly strict diet and exercise regimen that involves my waking up at 6:00 a.m. and starting my morning with either a 30 minute high intensity run or a 45 minute work-out with weights. Breakfast is always made up of low fat yogurt, protein powder, All-Bran, and strawberries. I'll try to make healthy choices at lunch (not always possible with the truly delectable choices on the catering truck) and will have a snack (a power bar and a piece of fruit) so that I'm not ravenous at dinner. As for dinner — well, we eat out almost every single night but, so far, I've yet to pack on the weight.

ST: If you could have a dinner party anywhere (even fictional), anywhen, and with anyone — be they living, dead, or fictional — where (and when) would you have it, what would you serve, and who would you invite?

JM: I remember seeing a segment of the old Jack Palance-hosted Ripley's Believe It or Not! show that profiled an emperor's feast that necessitated the guests set aside three full days for the enormous multi-course meal. That would have to be the setting. As for who would attend: Dr. Gregory House, Alan Shore, Denny Crane, Liz Lemon.

ST: And lastly ... you're a Daniel/Vala shipper, aren't you? Aren't you??

JM: Actually, I am Jack/Sam shipper as well as a Daniel/Vala shipper. Hope that's fairly obvious from "Memento Mori".

Thoughts and Tirades, Rants and Ruminations — Mallozzi's current personal blog ....
Mallozzi @ Gateworld — Mallozzi's former blog ....
Joseph Mallozzi's Production Blog — Joe goes into detail on how an episode is produced, hosted by Stargate Solutions. (Very funny!!)
Mallozzi @ IMDB — Mallozzi's page at the Internet Movie Database.
Mallozzi @ StargateWiki — A page about Mallozzi's career with SG-1 and SGA ...