Joseph Mallozzi
Chat Transcript

Where does Jolinar fit in with Sam's memories now?

We haven't dealt with Jolinar, but her memories still remain with Sam. Furthermore, the Jolinar presence still allows her to sense a Goa'uld presence (as alluded to inThe Curse) and will be playing a significant role in one of the early episodes for Season 5.

Jack and Carter have both been given medals. Will we see either Daniel or Teal'c received some sort of recognition for their contribution to the team?

Awarding Jack and Sam medals makes sense given their military background. That isn't to say Daniel and Teal'c don't richly deserve recognition as well. To be honest, I don't know if Daniel would even accept a medal given his view of the military. As for Teal'c, it's a possibility. No plans of yet however.

Given the number of times the members of SG-1 come flying through the gate and land on their backs or heads, why hasn't anyone tossed down a few gym mats on the ramp? They'd be easy enough to pull up to let the MALP roll up when needed and save our heros from a few bumps and bruises. :)

Not a bad idea, but I don't know how practical putting mats down the ramp would really be. Plus, I don't know if rough and tumble Jack O'Neill would want some wussy mats breaking his falls.

By the way, saw The Sixth Day Watch for cameos by Don S. Davis, our Major Davis from The Curse.

Is there any character from earth mythology that you would like to include in future eps?

There are tons of characters I'd like to do. I'd love to explore Chinese mythology. I'd imagine them passing through a gate built into the mouth of an enormous brass dragon. Every time it kawooshes, it would look like the dragon is breathing fire. I'd also love to explore Celtic and Japanese mythology. In addition, I'd love to play with the aboriginal legends of Dreamtime. I've been trying to find a story based on the Dreamtime but am still working on it.

One of the early Season 5 episodes will be dealing with Babylonian mythology. A story I've been wanting to do since day one.

If the Chinese had a gate, wouldn't that give Earth a total of three gates? And we already know from Watergate and Solitudes that they can interfer with each other.

Actually, the gate wouldn't be on Earth. It would be off-world, a planet under the rule of Yu.

Joseph - if there was one theme you'd like to explore for any particular character, that you've not been able to (yet), what would it be?

Well, I had a talk with Amanda [Tapping] while they were shooting Double Jeopardy and we discussed the fact that one of the areas we really need to explore is Sam's home life. Unfortunately, we never got around to coming up with the proper story this season. Robert, however, beat us to the punch and is working on a story for Season 5.

I noticed there was a copy of The Light floating around the net. It was kind of embarrassing. That was the writer's second draft, far from the final product. I can't imagine how it could have gotten out. It doesn't reflect the quality of the final product.

You mentioned earlier Daniel's view of the military. Do you think that view has changed given all he's been through and that he's become sort of a warrior himself. He looked so military in The Curse.

I don't think his view has changed all that much. At best, it's a grudging respect.

Thanks. Also, who comes up with the titles of the episodes?

I'd say coming up with the titles is the hardest part. The title we start with is rarely the title we finish with. Scorched Earth was originally Requiem because, in the original pitch, the Gad-meer race was sacrificed. Window of Opportunity was Ad Inifinitum.

Things change in the script process. In the original version of Crossroads, Teal'c gets his revenge on Tanith, killing him.

I noticed that in Beneath the Surface, the title seems to come from something Daniel says, but is it common for the names to change from the original draft? (Suicide Mission becoming The Light, for example...)

Window of Opportunity was very different - not at all a humorous story when it was first pitched. The story actually focused on what turned out to be the backstory. SG-1 encounter a civilization trying to avoid a global catastrophe. Their scientists work at solving the problem and, as doomsday draws near, simply reboot time in order to given themselves more time.

It is very common for the titles to change. Let me take a look at the title list...

Tangent was, believe it or not, TangentS!

What a disaster that would have been if we'd let that one go.

We kind of got a chuckle that most of the final few episodes are also titles of movies: Exodus, Absolute Power, Double Jeopardy, Entity, 2010.

Entity?

Formerly Child's Play.

Joe, will we see Aris Boch again? Cuz I bought Flash Gordon (The movie from 1980) and SamJ has a lot of Karma to make up for, and I would love to see him work some of that off in another wonderful SG1 Ep.

In all honesty, I don't think we'll be seeing Aris Boch again.

Might there be any chance of seeing Makepeace return? i.e. any more on technology-stealing issue, as Maybourne seems to have gotten away with it. Will those behind it rear their heads again? There are quite a few fans of the SG3 Colonel wondering about this, myself included, with a few theories being thrown around.

Well Maybourne got away with it because he's an accomplished weasel. He got as far as Russia before being caught. He presently resides in a federal pen, awaiting sentencing on charges of treason. He could be looking at the death penalty. As for Makepeace - I liked him and there's no reason why he won't come back. It's just a matter of finding the proper story for him.

But Maybourne comes back in an episode soon?

Oh, Maybourne could be coming back real soon. Stay tuned.

Isn't Maybourne in Chain Reaction?

Maybe. Maybourne may be in Chain Reaction.

Were you a Stargate fan before you started writing for the show? If not, did you have to take a crash course in old episodes?

As for a fan of SG-1 - I'd seen watched the show before. I remember being intrigued and tuning into an episode that, well, wasn't their best. As a result, I didn't become the fervent fan I am now. And, yes, Paul and I had to take a crash course. We watch some forty tapes in two weeks.

I was wondering if maybe there was any specific question that you wanted to ask us ... the fans. Also, how did MS' directorial debut go?

MS's directorial debut went well - although, quite frankly, I'm sure it was somehwat of a hellish experience for him. The episode [Double Jeopardy] was HUUUGE - but we watched the almost finished cut last week and it looks terrific.

As for questions for the fans, I probably check out the different boards more than anyone on the show so any questions I would wonder about are often answered (and then some). One thing I'd be interested in knowing is what other show read sci fi? Comics anyone?

You've already suggested that Jolinar will play a role in Season 5 and about Sam perhaps getting a home life. Along that line, are we ever gonna see Sam dealing with the fact that she killed Martouf? Maybe when he gets resurrected?

Jolinar wont' be playing a role in season 5 (so far), only her presence which allows Carter to sense the proximity of Goa'ulds. As for dealing with Martouf's death - yes, it's something that she needs to deal with - especially if he comes back as a villain and holds her responsible.

What does the process entail for ramping up to the next season of the show? How far ahead of the game do you guys plan out the show, and in how much detail?

We wrapped in October and are continuing post production begins sometime in February. Between there and now, we are all working on scripts. Paul [Mullie] and I are working on two (we have an outline and are working on another). Robert [Cooper] is working on two (he has an outline and is working on another). Peter [DeLuise] is working on an outline. Heather [Ash] is working on a script. Brad [Wright] is working on a couple.

Do you map out the entire season ahead of time, though ... or just take it a few eps at a time?

We do have a general arc we are working toward, building as we go. Can't say much more than that.

Joseph - lame question I know, but if you could be any character on the show, which would you chose and why?

As for who I'd like to be ... Jack O'Neill natch.

And since Yama asked (sort of) my third question, can I just come back to the Martouf question - is there any real consideration to him coming back, and was the 'villain' comment just to get a rise from some of us?

Bringing him back is always a possibility but one that has yet to be seriously discussed. As for his coming back as a villain - the suggestion has never been made but I think it would be a damn cool idea.

I want Kawalsky back.

Yeah, I liked Kawalsky. Bringing him back would be trickier though.

Will we ever know what happened to the Furlings? (You know, the fourth race from the Alliance - it was mentioned in The Fifth Race.)

We will definitely be learning more about the Alliance. As for the Furlings, that's one race we have yet to explore. Quite candidly, I think a lot of it has to do with the silly name. When I hear Furlings, I imagine ewok-like creatures prancing about.

If and when we explore them, I think we'd make a concerted effort to make them fur-less.

Any plans to show Sam on her motorcycle now that it's been established that she has one? And also, if you *do* bring Martouf back, give him the same wardrobe folks that designed Anise's costume. We need more equal opportunity eye candy on the show.

I don't know if we'll see her on the motorcycle. I don't know if Amanda even knows how to ride one. That'll be up to Robert who is working on the Sam script. As for the Martouf wardrobe suggestion - check. I'll tell wardrobe to put him in that low-cut hot little rubber number Anise was wearing in Divide and Conquer.

In Secrets a reporter had learned about the SGC but was struck by a car before he could expose the SGC to the public. Are there any plans for further leaks to the press and possible exposure of the Stargate project?

Actually, we're working on a story (our second script of Season 5) that deals with just that - the threat of exposure from a very surprising source. Can't say more or it would spoil it for you.

Since we've gotten glimpses of the backgrounds of the 4 members of SG-1, will we also get glimpses of the backgrounds of Hammond and Fraiser?

I think I mentioned in the last chat that Hammond and Fraiser are two characters who deserve to be more fully explored. It's just a matter of finding the proper story that keeps SG-1 front and center. Fraiser gets a shot in the spotlight in an early Season 5 episode. As for Hammond - we're still working on it.

Do you consider Janet being close to sg-1 or just co-workers?

I imagine Janet being very close to the team.

It feels that she is close to them and vice versa.

Definitely.

Are we likely to see the return of Heru'ur and get a glimpse of Goa'uld society?

I don't think we're likely to see the return of Heru'ur. As for a glimpse of Goa'uld society - it's something we've discussed. No definite plans of yet however.

Actually, he was my fave Goa'uld before he bought it. I was never an Apophis man.

I love villains. I think Osiris and Tanith are terrific baddies.

This is from my friend Dream who's reading over my shoulder: How much input do the actors have in the development of the characters? (And from me:) What suggestion has an actor made for their character that has been used or capitalized on the most?

The actors have a lot of input. The characters they play are their other-selves, and they ensure they don't do anything uncharacteristic. They will occasionally make changes to the script (usually dialogue changes) that they feel better reflect their characters. In the first draft of Beneath the Surface, for instance, there was a fairly strong romantic subplot between Sam and Jack that was nixed by RDA and Amanda.

Can you expand on the dialogue changes? Examples?

Well, for instance, in Window of Opportunity - that whole Happy Face on the plate bit was an RDA/Peter DeLuise special. It wasn't in the script.

Joseph, did you walk onto SG-1 with a sense of what you wanted to accomplish in storytelling on this show, or is it "just another job?"

No, this is definitely not "just another job." Paul and I got our start in animation, worked on shows like Student Bodies, Big Wolf, Lost World, and Largo Winch - but SG1 is the bigtime. Essentially, we wanted to come on and write character-driven stories. Scorched Earth, for instance, was one which, in the end, didn't really turn out quite the way we had hoped. Window of Opportunity was another which allowed us to explore the comical potential of our characters.

Also, it's nice to write scripts that are truly appreciated by the people you're writing for. I never imagined we'd write 7 of 22.

And RDA and the rest of the cast have been terrific. We wrote the "Homer" line in Beneath the Surface for Rick who we know is a big Simpsons fan. Point of No Return, which wasn't a fan fave, was a fave of most everyone on the show especially Michael Greenburg and RDA who really clicked with Willy, the guy who played Martin.

Point of No Return" was great.

I loved it.

Why thank you. It's always nice to hear feedback and know that you guys especially are enjoying our work.

Will Fraiser or Hammond get to go offworld more in upcoming eps??

No plans for Fraiser or Hammond to go off-world. There are possibilities for Fraiser but it's honestly quite difficult to come up with a plausible reason for Hammond to venture through the gate.

Why are you called Moorsyum?

Ah, good question. I'm kind of hesitant to say...

When I was younger, my buddies and I used to play D&D. Moorsyum was the name of the despicable villain I used to play. Paul [Mullie] was a monk.

So does that mean when we finally convince Paul to drop by he'll be monk?

I asked Paul and Peter [DeLuise] whether they'd be interested in chatting. Paul is kind of computer shy. Peter, on the other hand, is pretty busy - but he does drop by the Yahoo boards on occasion. He's directing a movie with Tom Arnold as we speak.

Moor, do the Goa'uld have any real weaknesses (ie: like cryptonite to Superman) besides the obvious need for hosts ... can they take hosts in animals or big beasts perhaps?

Ah, another excellent question. The Goa'uld are as vulnerable as the hosts they take. And as for whether they can take hosts in animals... you'll be learning the answer to that early in Season 5.

Do you know if any of the you or the other writers ever feel like doing a cameo in an episode like Peter DeLuise? Of course not counting you writing a book on Latin.

We had discussed the possibility of doing cameos. In Window of Opportunity, we discussed Paul or I being the nerd who whacks Teal'c with the door. In Point of No Return, Robert wanted us to be patients of Dr. Tanner, walking out of a session with him as Daniel and Sam come in. Maybe in Season 5.

There's a perfect story upcoming that would allow Paul, myself, even Brad and Robert to do cameos. I'll let you know how it works out.

Are there any plans for more interaction with Thor and the other Asgards?

Yes and yes. I forgot to mention that we have a new writer, Ron Wilkerson who wrote for "ST:TNG" and, I believe Voyager, working on a script for us. That story will touch on the Asguard.

So this is the Asgard in general, or Thor in particular, or both?

Asguard in general.

Have you all given thought of developing a weapon which will kill the Goa'uld but not be fatal to the host? I feel sorry for the poor hosts when it is the evil Goa'ulds that are the enemy.

That would definitely be something to work toward but, as of yet, they've been unable to come up with a weapon that would destroy the symbiote without harming the host. The Tok'ra extraction process does the job, but it's very painful for both and is not successful all the time.

I know that the Carter & O'Neill relationship is controversial, and obviously at this point in time they can't do anything about it. But is there ever a plan for some resolution one way or the other, or will the show keep stringing us along not knowing what will ultimately happen?

Well, if a resolution comes, I don't think it will be until the show wraps. And who knows when that might be. We don't even know if we'll be doing a Season 6 so that question may be answered sooner than most of us would like.

Is there any possibility of having a United Nations type gathering of all the planets leaders or representatives fighting the Goa'ld. kinda like a meeting of the minds sharing information and techniques to stop them.

Yes. If we can organize the different planet leaders and bring them to the table - but that can only happen once they've finished dealing with their problems back home.

We all know the Goa'uld stole the tech they use. I've always wondered from whom. Did you figure it out? (Like, maybe from the Asgard or the Furlings [g]?)

The Goa'uld basically invade/attack a civilization, destroy them or turn them into slave, steal their technology and move on. A lot of the civilizations the Goa'uld have stolen from have been wiped out.

Tanith's civilization was overrun by the Goa'uld. Was Hebron a survivor or someone rescued by the Tok'ra?

I'm not sure what Hebron's story is.

I think it was Brad Wright who mentioned several months ago that an "all-out war with the Goa'uld" was on the horizon. Is triggered by Exodus)?

We are definitely heading toward an all-out war and, yes, Exodus does take a huge step in that direction.

Moor, what would be the perfect off world planet (budget aside of course). What cool effects would you have. Also, if the stargate was exposed to the world, what do you think would be the intial reaction of the majority of people?

Tough questions. I think I'd like to explore a high tech city. Because of budgetary constraints, it's something we haven't been able to do. For the answer to your last question, check out 2010.

Do you have an all-time favourite episode and will we be seeing you back in SG1 Fans anytime soon?

I loved The Fifth Race (I'm always a sucker for episodes with humor). I love 2010 (I thought it was the best written script of Season 4). And, of the scripts I've written, I'd choose The Curse because I thought it surpassed our expectations. I know for Paul, he'd choose Point of No Return. And, finally, yes I'll be swinging by SG1 Fans real soon.

Thank you all for coming out (and for those of you on the East coast, probably staying up way past your bedtimes).

Joseph Mallozzi Chat Transcript
November 19, 2000
Condensed version of the chat from the StarGuide website.