Q&A With Joe
Mallozzi
(Questions submitted from
SamandJack, DanielFreeZone, and GateWorld forum)
Thank you to all who sent in questions and thank you to
Joseph Mallozzi for taking the time to answer them.
Please be aware that this Q&A contains spoilers for Season 5 & 6
Several people have asked in different forms:
(Nicky, Charlize, Denise, Marcia, Rodlox)
1. Are there are any plans as yet to introduce a new
character or bring back an old one?
(see or know more about Charlie(Reetu), Sara O'Neill,
Laira (is she pregnant), Makepeace, Merrin (from Learning Curve))
There are plans for both (the introduction of some new characters and the return of established characters, although not the ones mentioned). No plans to see Charlie or Merrin. Laira? No plans as of yet. Makepeace? Who knows. He's a great character. Maybe if the right story comes along. As for who'll be coming back: Major Davis, Bratac, Jacob, Ryac, and…plenty more surprises.
(This question has been on the groups and in various chat rooms.)
2.How
come we needed to get the DHD from Russia?
What happened to the
DHD that
the NID was using?
It became depleted after it was moved to area 51. More on this in the "Redemption" two-parter that gets the ball rolling on season six.
From AC:
1. I believe you once said that you had a part in the
development of "Caillou," a children's show that currently airs on
PBS. My (slightly frivolous) question is: Those parents are always so calm and
collected, no matter how outrageous their child's behavior. What drugs are they
taking, and where can I get some?
Actually, the adults in Caillou are incredibly calm because they've all undergone a full frontal lobotomy. The entire series takes place in a weird alternate universe peopled with hairless three year olds.
From Alicia Deen:
1. If you could do one crossover
episode of Stargate, which show would you like to do that crossover with?
And what would you like to see happen in it?
It might be fun to do a Stargate/Farscape crossover. As for the story…I don't know. I'll wait for Mr. Kemper and his crew to start the ball rolling on that one.
2. Will there be any episodes which deal with more of
Jack's past and/or personal life?
We had plans to do a story focusing on Jack's past last season, but we ultimately abandoned it because we couldn't get the story to work. It was a time travel episode that would have focused on Jack's early years.
From AllSubstance on the Gateworld Forum:
1. Can we have more of Teal'c? Like his sense of humor,
having him solve something that Sam can't, more on the friendship between him
and Sam, that sort of thing? Not necessarily Chulak-based stories, just Teal'c.
We enjoyed Teal'c in the the cowboy gear and the Star Wars movie ref as well as
jello-wrestling. Would like to see more of Teal'c and his lighter side. Will
this happen in season 6?
Yes, we'll be seeing more of Teal'c lighter side. In fact, just the other week we were discussing a story that would spotlight Teal'c in a totally different manner – and have major repercussions for his character. Stay tuned for more on this particular episode.
From Ann:
1. You mentioned that you started in children's TV, what
show should we keep our eyes open to see your name in the credits?
Busy World of Richard Scarry, Animal Crackers, Little Lulu, Paddington Bear, The Wombles, Mona the Vampire, Flying Rhino Junior High, George and Martha, Student Bodies, Big Wolf on Campus.
2. Do you have you have gained anything by interacting
with the fans online? If so what?
The best part of interacting with the fans is the many friends I've made online.
3. How did you and Paul become writing partners on SG1? Did you work together before the series? I know that you said that it truly is a collaborative effort, how difficult is it to co write with someone? Do one of you have a better handle with Jack dialogue or Sam technobabble?
Paul and I were writing partners before SG-1. We pitched for the show, wrote Scorched Earth, and were offered staff positions. At times, it can be very difficult to co-write with someone. On the other hand, having a partner to pick up the slack can be a real blessing. We both love to write Jack, and both have our work cut out for us when it comes time to writing the "techno-babble".
4. Did you enjoy your scene time in Wormhole Extreme? Would you want to do more in front of the camera? Do you want to do anything behind the camera?
Doing the WE cameo was fun, but I definitely wouldn't want to make a career of it. I'm very happy writing/producing and have no real desire to direct.
From Charlize:
1. Are we going to see Sam use some more Goau'ld devices
(hand device, healing device, etc..)?
It's possible but, yet again, this will be wholly dependent on the demands of the particular story.
2. Shall we see more of Sam's past? (brother, mother,
army years, etc...)
There are currently no plans to focus on Sam's past.
From Cynthia Morgan:
1. How important will the role of Jonas be, and will the
character also have an important place in any future Stargate movie?
Yes, Jonas will play a very important role in the show and the movie. Just how important remains to be seen.
2. I know this is getting a little ahead of the game, but
any thoughts towards having the series finale as a two-hour special? Or
throwing in some two hour special episodes mid season? Anything that might
squeak in a few extra viewing hours of the show?
Unfortunately, given production demands and our tight schedule, 22 episodes is the best we can do. However, if all goes well, you won't have to wait long for the Stargate SG-1 movie.
3. Can we hope for an episode or scene sometime in season 6 between Sam and Jack that touches on what was left in the room in D&C?
There's always hope. We're walking a fine line. On the one hand, we've established the fact that the feelings are there. On the other hand, we know that they can't act on those feelings so long as they are both in the Air Force.
From debbie_l_g:
1. How is the mood of the production team, knowing that
season six is the final season for
Stargate SG-1?
Well, as I said in a recent online chat, we don't really see season six as the end. In fact, we consider season six a new beginning. We're setting the groundwork for a possible movie and spin-off. That said, the mood is very upbeat, very relaxed. The cast and crew are having a lot of fun.
2. Speaking only for myself, I would imagine that it would be frustrating at times to see fan reactions. For example, in "Scorched Earth" during season four there were a few online fans who were upset about the lack of a tag scene between Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson showing that everything was all right between them in the end. And in "2001" it appears that no one is concerned about Major Carter being in obvious pain at the end of the Gate ramp. As a writer for the show, how frustrating is it to see that the online fans didn't end up on the same page that the creative team ended on and/or incessantly nitpick the ending?
It can be very frustrating because, of course, when fans feel that something is missing, they will instinctively blame the writer. Alternately, when a character delivers a clever line, they'll often assume the actor ad-libbed. In the case of both SE and 2001, the final version didn't reflect what was on the written page.
3. How will the new character, Jonas Quinn, expand the storylines that will be shown in season six? Will we be seeing any episodes after season five's "Meridian" that will explore his background and placement on SG-1?
As of matter of fact – yes. Paul and I are presently writing "Shadow Play" which will deal with Jonas's return to his home planet. Speaking of Jonas…
A lot of criticism has been leveled against the character and, although many of the fans doing the criticizing claim they're reacting to "the character", I think a lot of it stems from resentment over Daniel's departure. They argue Jonas is a) a coward, b) a traitor, c) a thief, and d) a liar. Well, for starters, no he didn't grab Daniel's gun, blow out the window, jump in and sacrifice himself in Meridian but I would hardly call "not sacrificing yourself" a cowardly act. Daniel performed an incredibly courageous act, but Jonas's reaction was very human given the circumstances. He froze. He didn't have the benefit of the many years of experience in life or death situations that Daniel possessed. I wonder how many of Jonas's critics would have reacted differently if they were in his shoes? Secondly – a traitor? He left the life he knew because he was disillusioned with his superiors, realizing he could do more good for his newfound friends AND his home world, by joining the SGC. Sound familiar? Yes, technically, Jonas is a traitor, just like Teal'c, the //shol'va.//. Jonas is a traitor to an oppressive government in the same way Teal'c is a traitor to the oppressive goa'uld. Thirdly, Jonas is considered a thief (for taking some of the naquadria through the gate with him and delivering it to the SGC). Yes, he delivered the naquadria to the SGC – with the understanding that whatever advancements resulted would be shared with his home nation. He also ensured that the naquadria would be used for a better cause – the defense technology that may one day save Earth from a Goa'uld attack. Fourthly – yes, he participated in the cover-up because, sizing up the situation, he believed that the success of the Naquadria Project and the millions of lives it could save outweighed the consequences of his actions. However, it was after talking to O'Neill that he reconsidered his actions and went to the government – where he realized his mistake.
Bottom line: A coward? No. A traitor, a thief, and a liar – technically, yes – but he was motivated by concern for his people and the belief that he was doing the right thing. Compare this with Teal'c who slaughtered countless innocents while in Apophis' service. The critics have no problem dismissing Teal'c's past transgressions but are unwilling to give Jonas a chance even though his offenses pale in comparison. Sounds like a bit of double-standard to me.
4. What have you learned from working on Stargate SG-1 that you will take with you on your next writing job?
Avoid time travel stories.
From Denise:
1. Let's step into fantasyland…you can write an episode,
any episode, not necessarily constrained by past or present continuity, what
would you write? (Pretend what you write is 100% what they'll tape)
I've always wanted to explore Asian mythology – Japanese mythology in particular.
2. If you could go back and change the outcome/theme/totally re-write an episode or piece of continuity, which one would you change and why?
I'll have to give this one more thought. But to name a couple of episodes: Emancipation, Tok'ra II, Holiday, 1969 (loved the episode except for one problematic piece of exposition), Into the Fire, Seth, Crystal Skull, Scorched Earth, Beneath the Surface, The Light, Prodigy, The Tomb, Wormhole X-Treme!, and Proving Ground. As for what I'd want to change…let's play a game and see if people can guess.
3. Revelations was what they were filming during Gatecon last year. I know since Teryl was late and was talking about taping in the little black suit. Which means, either there is a lost episode of season 5 or they knew at least a month before then that MS was leaving...or they wrote Meridian really fast. At the end of Revelations, many are interpreting the gust of wind as ghostly Daniel...was it him? And was the end of Revelations re-written to include that or was it always that way? Since Revelations is the first time there hasn't been a cliffhanger at the end of the season...was it written that way just in case there was no season 6?
What you saw is what was written. The Revelations ending was not re-written to include the "wind" element. At the time, we knew we would be heading into season 6 but we chose not to end the season on a cliffhanger so that we could have a fresh start come June. As to whether that wind was Daniel…we find out for sure in season 6.
4. And I personally love Sarcastic Sam...any chance she'll be hanging around in season 6?
Oh yes. Check out season six's two part opener, Redemption, for Sarcastic Sam.
From ED :
1. As a writer and supervising producer of the show, how
do you feel about spoilers -- in some cases so detailed that entire sections of
dialogue are posted online and there are no secrets left to the plot?
Whenever I go online and offer spoilers, I try to walk a fine line between teasing and outright spoiling. For instance, I'll allude to certain overall arcs (ie. we uncover more about the ancients over the course of season six) or, when discussing upcoming episodes, will offer insights that won't necessarily spoil it for our viewers. That said, there's no way to stop fans from finding out about upcoming episodes if full spoilers are available. It's really up to the fan whether they want to wait for the show or not.
2. Does the fans' knowledge of advance spoilers make
writing episodes more difficult when fans begin commenting, for better or
worse, on episodes that aren't even aired yet, and in some cases, may not even
have begun production? Can it impact future episodes down the road?
Nope, not at all. It's funny because I've noticed that certain fans have started critiquing season six episodes based on the spoilers they've read online. It's like basing a book report on the back cover summary of a novel.
From Erika
1. Actors have a large input into how a scene can be
played. For example I believe there was supposed to be some dialogue between
Jack and Sam in the force that field scene in Divide and Conquer but Richard
and Amanda chose not to say the lines feeling it would work better without
dialogue. Once you have delivered the script does a writer have the opportunity
to discuss and influence how it's played?
Yes, the actors have large input into how a scene is played. Once the script leaves the writer's hands, we have little control over how the director chooses to shoot it, or how the actors elect to play their scenes. Often, an actor may even request a change in the way a script is written. A scene in Summit comes to mind – right after Jacob informs Daniel of his mission. Originally, we intended for the following Daniel/Teal'c scene to play very differently. Daniel was to have misgivings about taking the mission because, unlike other missions, this was an assassination. We felt Daniel, being the team's moral center, would at least be hesitant about killing the hosts. Michael felt otherwise, however, arguing that Daniel would have no scruples about completing the mission. As a result, that particular scene was changed.
2. Sam, Jack and Teal'c are dealing with Daniel's death
in different ways. Do you think we will ever get to see Jack open up about how
he feels instead of hiding behind the "way of the warrior crap"? It's
certainly left Sam feeling angry and frustrated and I felt put a distance
between them.
Daniel is gone but not forgotten – and Sam, Jack, and Teal'c will still have to deal with his passing, and they'll do it in their own personal way. As far as Jack is concerned – well, he did see Daniel ascend so there was really no closure there. And then there's the upcoming episode Abyss where…ah, I don't want to give it away. Suffice it to say Daniel is neither totally gone nor forgotten.
3. I recently attended Wolf 5 with some friends. We were really taken with Amanda Tapping, she is just great. We all agreed that we'd love to see some of her humor and liveliness come through in the way Sam is portrayed. I've very much enjoyed seeing the emotional side of Sam in these last couple of episodes, it's made her a much fuller person. Do you plan for this to continue?
Yes. More Sam in season six.
4. Do we get to see how and why Jack becomes a Tok'ra
before Abyss?
Yes, we certainly do. I've noticed a lot of people have commented that Jack would never allow this to happen. I agree. He never would. You'll have to tune in to find out exactly what happened that will lead to this major turn.
From Gipsy on the Gateworld Forum:
1. What happened to the Hippie couple in 1969? Did
Michael go to Vietnam? That really bugs me - I've been dying for a followup on those
two. I really liked them.
That's funny because the very first question I asked Brad when I joined the show for season 4 was "Did Michael go to Vietnam?" Brad assured me that Michael survived the ordeal.
From Jen:
1. I greatly admire what you have done so far on
Stargate and I am looking forward to Season 6. You have said the
writing process for SG1 is largely a collaborative effort. First, how is
it decided who will actually write the episode? What ultimately is the
deciding factor as to whose name is under the "written by" in the
titles? How much input is there in your stories by Robert Cooper,
and vice versa, your input in his? How much input do the actors have
in how the story is finally played out, both during the writing process
and filming process? Does SG1 generally stick to the script as was
written or are there a lot of impromptu changes during filming? Lastly, how do
these subsequent changes affect your future writing efforts for episodes, if at
all?
Whoever comes up with the idea for the story writes the script. Once one of us has an idea, we will get together and spin it. Ideas are tossed about until we have a good sense of the story, then we head off to write the outline and, later, the script. The writing staff (Brad, Robert, Peter, Paul, Damian, and I) influence the script during the writing process. Yes, the actors do influence the episode, either at the script stage or on the day of shooting. These changes have a marked effect on future writing efforts. For instance, Michael felt strongly that he wanted to shift away from being the team's moral center and move toward a more heroic role, so ensuing stories reflected this change in direction.
From Jo R:
1. In
'Bloodlines', Teal'c gives his son his symbiote and in 'The Warrior', there are
a lot of rebel Jaffa. In 'Crossroads', we saw that once symbiotes mature, they
need to be removed or they'll kill the Jaffa carrying them, so, what will
happen when Teal'c/Rya'c/Bra'tac/some other Jaffa needs a new symbiote? Will the
Tok'ra come to their aid or..?
If a symbiote is available, yes. However, Bratac has already made it clear that he will not take another symbiote.
2. What happened
to the Jaffa in 'The Warrior'? They were seen to go through the 'Gate with SG-1
but there's been no reference to where they went thus far.
We find out in the season six episode "Allegiance", written by Peter DeLuise.
3. Did Charlie from 'Show and Tell' survive the attack on the Tok'ra in 'Summit'/'Last Stand' and will we be seeing him again in season six?
Charlie was off-world at the time. However, there are no plans to see him in season six.
From Lola:
1. What is the significance of Sam and Blue Jell-o?
I'm not really sure. I think the preference for blue Jell-o has less to do with Sam and more to do with those wacky individuals in the props department. Presumably, they prefer blue jell-o.
2. Why is Colonel Simmons not in uniform?
John DeLancie asked if he could play the role of Simmons out of uniform. He felt that it lent the character a more sinister air. We checked with the Air Force and got the okay.
From Marcia:
1. In
"Shades of Grey", Makepeace tells Jack that he (Jack) ticked off the
wrong people
this time. That always came across to me as a veiled
threat that Jack would be a target at some point. This seems even more likely
after "Chain Reaction". Will we see any follow-up on this?
The fact that O'Neill holds something over Kinsey (qv Chain Reaction) has kept the NID in check for now. But come season six, an interesting little development will definitely put the screws to Jack – and the SGC as a whole.
From Mary McNamara, Ireland:
1. Do you ever feel like you're running out of ideas for
the stories, new or old?
No. In fact, as time goes on and the SG-1 backstory becomes richer, ideas come easier.
From Melissa Grieve:
1.Any chances of Sam and Jack going on that fishing
trip in season 6 (preferably alone)?
Yes, it is possible.
2.Will there be a lot of character-based episodes next season or more plot-based ones?
We're trying to mix it up: some action-based stories, some character-based stories, some off-world adventures, some Earth-based adventures.
3. How much of new guy Jonas (whom I liked very much btw) and Jack, Sam, Teal'c "bonding" will be given screen time? How quickly or slowly do you think the development of solid friendships between them would occur, and how much of that would we see take place on screen?
Well, it will definitely take time for them to accept the new guy. Of course, he will have to prove himself. This may take some time.
4. Are there any plans for some of the secondary
characters like Janet and Hammond, to have larger roles?
Check out Doc Fraiser in "Frozen".
From Morjana Coffman:
1. In "Window of Opportunity" as the episode
opens, Malikai shoots Daniel with an alien weapon. Was Daniel merely rendered
unconscious, or was he killed? The reason for the question is later on in the
episode, when Daniel tells Malikai that the device never worked, Malikai
responds, " It never did? You're living proof."
Interesting interpretation but – no, Malikai didn't kill Daniel, he only rendered him unconscious.
From Neith on the Gateworld Forum:
1. Do you read Science Fiction and what are your favorite book writers are?
I used to read a lot more when I wasn't writing. Some of my fave writers include Harlan Ellison, Fritz Leiber, and Arthur C. Clarke.
From Ruth Kirkham:
1.Having really enjoyed "Meridian" and as the
Asgard would say "species has great potential", will we be seeing
Jonas Quinn throughout the whole of season 6?
Yes, there'll be Jonas a-plenty in season 6.
2.Given that there are a lot of fan fiction epilogues on the net do you ever wish that the show could be juts a bit longer? I am particularly thinking of "The Warrior" here, it was a strong episode but I felt there was something missing in that Teal'c turned his back on SG-1 and then everything was OK again.
Yes, it would be great if we could do a full one hour.
3.If you had to pick one episode from the five seasons
which do you think has been the best?
I loved 2010. It's not often you get to kill of your entire cast. It was also interesting to see where everyone ended up (albeit in an alternate timeline). Brad did a terrific job on the script. The Fifth Race is also a fave – an episode that, in my opinion, had it all. Robert wrote a great script.
From Rodlox:
1. Will we ever see Jack's office?
No plans yet. He decorates his office with these great Simpsons playsets. He has almost every character on the show.
2. If Loki ever shows up, would he be a goa'ulded Azgard?
Again, the goa'ulded Asgard is an intriguing possibility that was suggested in the original movie. It's possible.
From Sally:
1.You've
mentioned before that there was a stronger romantic story line in "Beneath
the Surface" but that it was changed during filming. Can you tell us how
the episode was originally scripted and how it was changed?
In the original script,
Jack and Sam had no recollection of their previous lives. They were lovers in their new lives and,
yes, the script did call for some "tender moments". It was a bittersweet episode in that, as
their memories returned, they realized they could no longer continue the
romantic relationship they had shared.
Ultimately, we lost the romantic through-line and, in my opinion, the
heart of the episode.
2. Season Four
saw the S/J relationship brought to the forefront in two or three episodes, but
I didn't see much sign of it at all in Season Five. Was that a conscious
decision by the producers? If so, why? And will we see it return in the final
season? (I hope so! <g>)
It was conscious in
that, given their respective positions in the military, it was not possible for
them to develop any sort of romantic relationship. As for what the future holds – well, only time will tell.
3.Have you ever
written a novel? If not, would you like to? What would it be/is it about?
I've never written a
novel. I'd prefer to stick to
screenwriting.
4.When and how did
you decide to become a TV writer? Do you have any tips for an aspiring TV
writer?!
I was actually
looking for a job as a script reader and ended up writing a script for an
animated series called The Busy World of Richard Scarry. From there, I wrote for various animated
series, then moved on to live action and, eventually, Stargate. To those aspiring tv writers, I strongly
urge them to start out in animation and work their way up. They'll get experience, contacts, and some
pretty sizable checks.
5. Is there an
episode of Stargate that you'd love to write, but will never be allowed to?
Hmmm. I'll probably need more time to answer this
question. I don't know of any story I
would want to write that Brad and co. would expressly forbid me to right –
except for maybe the all-singing all-dancing episode.
6. What are the
best and worst things about writing for Stargate?
The best thing about writing for the show are the people I work with. The worst thing is the pressure you're under to get the scripts out.
From Sel:
1.Will season six "finish" - ie. will there be
a discrete ending "Hurrah we beat the Goa'uld!" Or will it be a
"flow on" thing - ie. life goes on at the SGC against the Goa'uld, we
just don't get to see it.
We will be wrapping up a lot of loose ends, but we'll also be setting the groundwork for the movie and spin-off. We'll wrap up loose ends but we'll also be teeing up some major new adventures. Season 6 is definitely not the end.
2. If it "flows on" will it conclude in the movie?
Nope. The movie is only a pit stop on the way to the sequel.
3. Is there still a Stargate SG-1 movie coming? (If they could get cameos of Kurt Russell and James Spader in there somewhere that would be a howler - maybe as Jack and Daniel's respective 'mentors' at some stage?)
Yes, there's a movie coming. Brad and Robert will be writing the script.
From Tere on the Gateworld Forum:
1. Will there be flashes of the "feelings" we
know Jack and Sam have for each other during the upcoming season 6? Having only
seen the first half of season 5, I know that this issue seems to have been
completely dropped from the scope. S/J seemed to have very little flirtation
or, even, teasing this season and for a lot of the fans, this interaction has
been missed. Will we have any
resolution for these two characters with regard to a relationship/their
military status which prohibits this/etc.?
Again, it's possible. It just depends on when and if we want to conclude their arc.
From Trish:
1. Are there any plans to give Teal'c a romantic
relationship with an earth woman (or any woman for that matter)?
Unfortunately,
Teal'c doesn't get the opportunity to meet many Earth women – and even when he
does, he cannot reveal his alien origin.