Joe Mallozzi Interview 2007

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Joe M ALL OZZI

s us his e iv g i z z o ll a M e inaire Jo d r o a r t x e r e to e k c li u d ’d o e r h P o e h iv w t u , r c u e Ex season fo is t n la t A : e t a g r and why , r a e y t x e n y x thoughts on Sta la gasus Ga e P e h t o t it is v dogs… d n a s ie b see paying a a b h it verrun w o e b o t t u o b a the set is

ing a good lozzi is hav uld not al M e Jo r e unn ow wo ntis show-r ces that the sh targate: Atla rumblings last year with television audien ite d ld sp u an e , o n D w o . s ar n as fa ye se d for a fifth ard, Stargate: Atlantis d at the end of be renewe orrie the bo ss ro ac show is an a little w g droppin ing more th make – the renewed e b r fo n e iv s to rg th t n fo o ar n p m e l e w a fe have b no smal a difference , thanks in 2007. What ds its 100th episode ’t coming ar SG-1 wasn to really e hurtling tow e plan… at rg ta S as us gam ick-up, and s, so that allowed to e done Mallozzi’s e ’v very early p “We got a only doing 20 episod ke a look at what we up with re e ta me e w w co ’t e n d o w an d k, y – h t it bac ,w think abou “For d say, ‘OK sit down an uple of years – really .” says the producer. n to explore co o d t as te in the pas ; we wan for the se d n se la p ru e e d ory, and n am u ard back-st an overall g Teyla character was the Shepp ven’t done in the re e lo th , xp e ce instan ted to we ha the acters that ter. We wan her charac nships between char as so much focus on ways been al w tio e e la er I’v re d n Th . ai an rt ay ith ce l cK non and M ot away from the Wra e the Goa’uld; they al o R e lik t, pas ch made ample ar year, we g hi ex st w , ct la ul fe rs rf er o lo p at ce – a very co Replic ins with a fa d they were a fan of villa arate personalities, an we’re kicking off this e, there’s if nc p l, uneasy allia had their se ing. We thought, ‘Wel to make an who st them intere ator war and we have back as said Wraith four is the lic es n Wraith/Rep Chris Heyerdahl com nestly feel that seaso tell, but also e ho …’ I w ! ith d es ra d ri W o To st g at th the ds up namin in terms of acters, and I find that Sheppard en e’ve ever done, just ar ch een the nw best seaso e small moments betw th f o s rm te in ing. very satisfy

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bitious n four’s am ising seaso ights of the year? ra p e ik al hl ers and fans ere the hig the script, With produc does Mallozzi think w did a terrific job with w out t o ha er th w ns, and re . Martin G storylines, me questio f the show who bat – Adrift so e th ed ff er o sw o ht s, an r “Rig r fans e loose end ler characte warding fo tied up som . I liked it a lot. It’s re tion to see those smal de. This is re si o ac a bunch m aracters in n is at Elizabeth’s bed tle moments see our ch lit tune in and r instance, when Rono n four – show those big warrior o e fo moments – to do throughout seas moment for Ronon, th the d a ve what we trie lnerability. That was idst all the chaos. I lo s to the r vu ad am d of characte ey bump he ment alone up in a mo and McKay have – th s first name! Sheppar s en p hi who o d y ar b p s d p ha ar he p S ur p fo at he n th S t d. Seaso ally calls argumen McKay actu ds his groun , point where o it!’ and Rodney stan aracters, like Zelenka nd ch xt e ‘U ne th s m hi he ha tells owcase y three, odes where to really sh allowed us m being in three epis one episode for ever ft, or ri hi m d and not just do. Now, you’ve got hi tial things – like in A an to st b g in su th ry to no ing ve the got him do ink, one of but you’ve e, with, I th flash back and d o is ep a. g Tabula Ras a is a very interestin he way it’s shot, we e directed th “Tabula Ras we’ve ever done. T Wood, who e film differently, at tin th ar es M t. en d pas e best sc treat th n present an to actually sent and th forth betwee e a conscious choice een the look of the pre elenka, we Z w ad episode, m arked difference bet y character who, like s this am ght condar se er th so there’s o t and spotli but because an Lorne – evelopmen e, past. Major terms of character d ing on in the episod ry in go e show is ve up th t’s f o ha ed w p k o w ep lo o st kn he t so T . n’ g in ne es o at d eryo entr season – he uns, he’s corraling ev ause we were conc e wasn’t ec er eg he’s got th d it was a lot of fun. B and the larger arcs, th but we did t , an en es g d m in o p st o is re el ep te ev ff in rd hter, one-o rself was e characte much on th portunity for the fun, lig fantastic. Harmony he ate SG-1 rg p o as ta h w S I think Orici in that muc the middle mony, which as such a do one, Har elle Ferland. She was rrific actress! She w the lines to d te f – she knew she would played by Jo Flesh and Blood – a ew her stuf ’s d season nine rk with because she kn ble over the lines, an o um delight to w re when Joe would st he the point w line! s feed him hi

ckson! a J l ie n a D e should b it is t n e types h la t t f A o o t e s g u in a c uld be com it this year simply be o h s e ome by, n c o y ll n e a h c o d it “If o M t e to have a chance v t lo e g ’d I ’t . n ll id e t d fan…” o t ll We e d h e c t it n a M w ig nab at we of stories th fun too. I’ve always sebee e e y fans that would b nger running as a series, vimsiant Atlantis, which lo am e original te way space ate SG-1 no With Starg opportunity to have th “We created this Mid to have al … ay e ay w id d in Midw ought was a terrific this as an out the th hat happene is exactly w is something that we Since we’re talking ab to throw e d ch s. o hi ie is w p ax e station two gal erfect ly, etween the this is the p ies and then, ultimate transport b ith the two galaxies, ar fun, rs h ve uc m ad as so w connection non together, initially the episode – he was coming to e Ro e in and did anyone else should b to do it Teal’c and Judge cam ce If allies. Chris d working with him… We didn’t get a chan ted to tell. an n! ve w lo so e w ck w e Ja at cr l th e ie th d be Dan of stories ul s o e one of our p e sh ty it us e is th ca Atlant ecause of orked is be to have Mitchell b w ly it p n m o si , as I’d love this year ry, the re way station. e Teal’c sto itchell fan… Even for th to get rid of that Mid always been a big M e as w I’v . o as to nd age e fun at would b come by, th

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Joe M ALL OZZI ntis’ d Team Atla our belove at the d an , d te else th and dus story ere anything n four done With seaso in the balance, was th done this year? “One to as g ve w in , ha ng ity to future ha uld like opportun roducer wo this season ally got the executive p d to do, but never re “At the beginning of in store . te d that we wan a father,”Mallozzi says ues as to what we ha were. cl s ay make McK oem on my blog, with aled what all the clue Katy was . p ve I put a little ur, and I eventually re pposed to be McKay ther. We su fo fa n as a o w e as m at se th co d be for was one, an of course, d he would Parenthood become pregnant, an ake a great dad. But uldn’t have m to co d e d ul – he wo e gnant, w suppose dropped th ould be fun she was pre thought it w came in and told us ith parenthood, so we a small l in w when Rache am members dealing a. It was problematic in terms of te way on Teyl ig d b a se in two of our cu fo line and McKay, but ter was McKay story t we had planned for dark turn her charac d out, it e e ha th rn w – tu a ith it yl w way for Te But as d planned ng people. has a relationship with what we ha hunting for her missi l lf, e e baby itse le arc. Micha taking, whi quite nicely with the he has designs on th re thrown in than that – ties. This year we we available actually fit s even more abili asn’t Teyla, but it’ yla and the father’s ancy and Amanda w of t gn f Te because o eballs, Rachel’s pre to shoot episodes ou g? Is she rv in ad w cu h o y e sh w an l e m d so ach t s an for us. Is R a found ou f the movie because o at created problems ith that, Jason Momo sser extent, h w le T . g a sequence ere dealin roblem to dle of the hich is a p g? As we w not showin oing to be a father, w some time in the mid ailable! g ly av that he was ing to happen probab ent when he was un o om but it was g had to plan for the m gs on set next year!” o e season. W a lot of babies and d e b ill w There