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On Writing a Formatted Comic Book Script
by Gary Walters
(All characters herein referenced are the explicit property of Gary Walters and Walters Comics Limited, LLC and may not be used, copied, or referenced without explicit permission of the companies President and CEO.)
I'm going to share some pages and scenes from my upcoming comic book Even Steven #1. By going through this lesson you can learn how you can use the tools of the comic book writer: the dialogue, the caption, the thought bubble, to reveal both plot and action. And the characterization of your characters.
| PAGE 1
PANEL 1 CAPTION CAPTION CAPTION PANEL 2 CAPTION CAPTION STEPHEN (thought balloon) |
Now notice Stephen's first bit of internal monologue dialogue here. I orginally wanted to have him say "Can't believe I'm late again. Jesus." After debating it for a few days, I changed it because I didn't want to offend anyone. It's important to make your comic friendly to all new readers. Particularly if you want to create a product that will be appealing to a mass audience, such as a movie going audience.
The next dozen-ish pages show Stephen at school and at home, reveling bits of his characterization to the audience. It sets up the conflict between him and the bully Chaz Harrison. Then we see the fateful night when Stephen catches Chaz dealing the deadly new drug, Synthenol. They fight. Chaz pummels Stephen, gives him a fatal overdose of Synthenol and leaves him for dead.
Now notice how I use inner monologue in this next section to reveal the character to the audience.
| PAGE 11 PANEL 1 Stephen lays motionless on the ground. CAPTION PANEL 2 STEPHEN CAPTION PANEL 3 STEPHEN (thoughts) STEPHEN PANEL 4 STEPHEN CAPTION PANEL 5 STEPHEN (thoughts) PANEL 6 CAPTION STEPHEN PANEL 7 CAPTION STEPHEN (thoughts) PANEL 8 CAPTION STEPHEN CAPTION STEPHEN PANEL 10 CAPTION STEPHEN PANEL 11 STEPHEN (thoughts) PANEL 12 STEPHEN (thoughts) CAPTION PANEL 13 CAPTION STEPHEN CAPTION |
See? By showing Stephen's inner thoughts I can show the audience just what he's feeling as he is transformed into the dark avenging hero of the night's darkness, Even Steven!
Now the next bunch of pages deal with Even Steven learning how to use his powers and him exacting revenge on the bully/drug dealer Chaz Harrison. After vanquishing his foe, Even Steven takes a moment to reflect on his new life...
| PAGE 22
PANEL 1 CAPTION CHAZ HARRISON STEPHEN (thoughts) PANEL 2 MATTY PANEL 3 CAPTION STEPHEN (thought) PANEL 4 CAPTION STEPHEN PANEL 5 CAPTION PANEL 6 CAPTION STEPHEN (thoughts) MATTY |
So throughout this first issue I have been able to establish the character, his powers, and have him experience his first victory. Readers will care about him because they have gotten to know the real him and can relate to him and his plight. If you keep working on your characterization and dialogue, you too can create a comic book script that will engage readers, young and old, alike!
Next column: BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Read Volume 1, Issue 5 of The Tricks of Turning Pro.
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Posted by YourMomsBasement at 09:00 AM
by Pete Goodrich
My TV habits back in the day were...voracious. I watched every damn show I could, be it a sitcom or a cartoon, or an action adventure starring a wisecracking car, alien, or adopted urchin. I watched crap I didn't even like, that even back in the day I would recognize as cheese. But I loved it, and could not stop myself. Street Hawk! The derivative (definitive?) tale of a man and his super-crimefighting motorcycle! Utterly forgettable. All I remember about it was that his cycle had a gatling gun on it, thus making it cool. Small Wonder! Worst child actor ever, yet every time it was on it would just suck me in, like a fish my mouth would hang open as I gazed emptily (yet lovingly) into that magic (idiot) box.
I soaked in pop culture like a damn sponge, taking in every bit that presented itself before me. This is not a condemnation of my parents and their parenting. If anything, they were always up in my shit about 'reading more' or 'going outside.' Well screw that! Not when Alf is on! Or anything else for that matter! I was a glutton for TV, I hoovered it up like TV was coke and the 80's were Studio 54. It's my own fault. I got greedy. I'd watch show after show again and again as often as I could. Sure, in time I learned to appreciate a good book or some comics or eve the dreaded 'playing outside,' but you know what? Thats right, my heart still yearned for the TV; and the flickering lights within.
And looking back, I see what I took from my youthful fascination with television. I learned sin. All seven of the big ones are inherent in my youthful TV watching habits. Like I mentioned, I was a freak for television, watching everything that came on (Out of this World? The fuck was I thinking?) regardless of the shows quality, stars, plot, anything. If it was TV, I'd find a way to enjoy it.
And Greed. Woe betide you if you were my little brother back in the day, and wanted to watch something other than what I wanted to see. The remote control was MINE, especially when 'Remote Control' was on. Attempts to change the channel to anything other than what I wanted would end in violence, and it would usually end in tears for him: I'd watch Knight Rider, and he'd end up crying. No, you'd never want to be my little brother when I was a kid in the 80's. Lucky for you, you won't be.
This listing excludes the natural shows that I think most of the readership here will sympathize with: GI Joe, Transformers, He-man...that was all great stuff, and I have no regrets. Not that I have a lot of regrets for the crap that I did watch as you will see.
GLUTTONY Night Court
I was obsessed with Night Court.
I know. Night Court? How were you obsessed with Night Court? I don't know how either. But I was. I followed that show throughout all of the cast changes (two clerks, three defending attorneys, three assistant baliffs) and it's shift from semi-serious comedy to straight up tomfoolery. I even took the time to learn who the hell John Astin (Gomez Addams, Harry's dad on the show) was and Mel Torme (Harry's random obsession) were. Can you think of any other situation where a 10 year old kid would give a rats ass for Mel Torme?
Yes, Night Court. I could not get enough of Night Court. Now, as 80's shows go this one wasn't that bad, right? I hope you'll agree with me gentle reader, as I watched the shit out of this show. Seriously. Though it was awhile before I was old enough to stay up to watch it when it was actually aired on NBC, the reruns were plentiful, and I devoured them. I'd tape them, so I could rewatch them later. I would have bathed in Night Court if I could have. And then when I was old enough to watch it myself at the natural hour, nothing could tear me away from the TV. Looking back, it was mildly disturbing.
Moreso in light of the marathon semi-recently shown by the good people of TVLand. The three day Night Court extranaganza taught me many a thing. For one, considering that the show was ostensibly started as a Harry Anderson vehicle, he's the least funny thing about the show. Also, Dan Fielding was utterly hilarious when was the sex-mad freakjob that he was for the earliest parts of the show, and was very much unfunny once they had him lose his libido. Most importantly, I learned that this show wasn;t that good. But there's nostalgia for you.
ENVY: Silver Spoons
So as a kid, was there anything cooler than the house in Silver Spoons? For the children in the audience who do not have TV Land, Silver Spoons in brief: Single dad Edward Stratton III is wealthy and childlike in his exuberance and excesses (like a non-threatening Michael Jackson), he has a son named Ricky who is more sober-minded and...well yeah. I don't remember what was likeable about Ricky. I know I watched his show every weekend, but for the life of me I cannot remember why: I cannot recall a single likeable thing about the kid. Oh yeah I do, his house.
House is the wrong word: mansion, is more appropriate. The phone shaped like a duck, the full-sized video games in the living room, all the toys, Rocky's race car bed, the fucking train going through the living room? I wanted that. I wanted all of that. We all did. I still do, I still want the stand up video games in my living room so that I can play Q*Bert whenever I want to. And I cannot have that, for I lack the thousands of dollars such accessories would cost me. And for that I weep inwardly.
Motherfucker even had his own robot death machine? DAMN YOU STRATTONS! Damn you and your immense bankroll, damn you for that opulent toystore you called a living room, damn you for your toy train running to wherever the fuck it ran...and damn you for teaching me how to care.
Actually, skip the last part. They taught me nothing on Silver Spoons. Nothing but purest envy. I watched it because I coveted all that Ricky had. And I still do. Fuck you Rick. And your dad, and your grandpa from the Paper Chase (whatever THAT was, that mysterious TV show from my youth that my parents enjoyed) and your little buddy Alfonso. Who I loved when he was on Fresh Prince, but I digress.
LUST: The Facts of Life
I had lust in my heart for the Facts of Life girls. What can I say? I was young when this show was on the air, and I didn't really have any conception of what sex was (until I was ten I thought a blow job involved actually blowing on a guys dick) but I tell you this: I understood that girls in school uniforms= sexy. In fact, the Facts of Life Girls might have been directly responsible for my attraction to girls in uniform. Not all of them of course. Tootie bothered me, as I had a fear of girls in braces. And Natalie...well Natalie. Jo was cute, and I liked her pluck, her tomboyishness was appealing to me...I thought that I could be the one to tame that wild beast. But really, my heart was for Bair. Oh sweet Blair, she of the high standards and wealth; a proto-Paris Hilton without the immense sluttiness. How I wished to make her love me, to get her to defrost that frozen bank vault of a heart and learn to love the common man.
...and Mrs Garrett. Oh, Mrs. Garrett. She combined the best attributes of all of the Facts of Life girls into one: the spunk of Tootie, the beauty of Blair, the down-hominess of Jo, the...Natalie, and the combined age of all four girls combined. I think we all grew up with a little something in our pre-pubescent hearts for Mrs. G. "When I'm 80, I want a woman just like Mrs Garrett!" But I think that this day may never come.
PRIDE: Cheers
This was a show I only got to see sporadically when I was a kid. See, it was on 'late' for me, when I was a boy in 1985. 9 PM, I was in bed, sleeping to rest up for the big day at school. In reality I hid under the covers and read comics, but whatever: bottom line was no Cheers for me. But summer vacations I'd be able to watch the reruns. And iin time, early reruns came. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine show. Some episodes do not hold up well to the test of time, other episodes I feel are stil hilarious. Unlike the other hows I mention here, I'd say that of the lot Cheers deserves the warm and fuzzy place in my memories.
Ohh, but it taught me sin. The sin of pride! See, it took place in Boston. I was born in Boston! I lived right outside of Boston! This was a big thing when I was a kid! A popular TV show based on my own home town! Spectacular! And man, was I ever a dick about it to kids from other states. My family would vacation in Rhode Island, and my grandmother lived in a farm town in the middle of Connecticut, and I would regale the local kids about how cool it was to be from the same city that Cheers was filmed in! I'd tell them all about how the bar isn't the same in real life as it appeared to be on TV, and how the mailmen didn't all talk like that but a lot of them did, and that I lived in the same City! The same City that Cheers was based in!
And to a one, none of them gave a shit. We're talking kids here, kids who like me were not allowed to stay up so late to watch TV. And by the time we were all old enough to stay up and watch Cheers, none of those kids gave a shit that I lived in Boston. "They film it in Hollywood, anyways." And looking back, when ones only claim to fame is that you live a town over from where a fictional sitcom was situated...yeah, I can see how some kid from a farm town in the midde of Connecticut might not be so impressed. Or be moved to doling out a wedgie or two. The kids there...they did not like me.
WRATH: Diff'rent Strokes
Was this show even funny? I've seen it since I got older, and all signs point to no. Arnold acts plucky, Willis looks at him in an exasperated fashion, Kimberly says something dumb, Mr. Drummond says something stodgy and white, Arnold drops his catchphrase a couple more times and then it's onto the credits. Simple, simplistic TV sitcom business. And with Diff'rent Strokes began my innate hatred of all things 'cute.' Arnold. Oh you spunky little devil. Your catchphrases so smooth, always leaving poor Willis as the butt of the joke, and kindly old Mr. Drummond befuddled. That was the Alzheimers, yes. But d you have to play into his natural weakness?
And in looking back, at the time of filming wasn't ol' Gary here like 18 or so? I know he looked like he was seven and all, but did no one teach him what 'dignity' meant? Looking back, I hate this little, unfunny dickweed. TV and reveals a number of harsh truths (Perfect Strangers was fucking dumb. There, I said it! And I die inside!) and A number one among them is that this show was not funny.
SLOTH: Webster
I remember there were some kids in my class who weren't allowed to watch TV, so anytime we had a film strip they had to leave the room. They'd gather up their things in their simple, homemade pants and sheepishly leave the room as the rest of the class stared at them like they were aliens.
So I guess that's why I watched Webster. I didn't want to be associated with the weird kids whos parents wouldn't let them watch TV. And I can say whatever I want to say about those kids, as I doubt they're using computers nowadays. Maybe they've graduated to the Apple 2E by now.
But Webster: I watched it every time it was on, but for the life of me I cannot remember why. Even then I didn't ever laugh at his antics, nor was my heart warmed by his interactions with George or...Nan. Or Ma'am. I could never tell what the hell the little mutant called that chicken lady. What do I remember? His house had badass secret passageways. And he was very very small.
So why did I watch it? Was it out of the fear that I would be seen as the neo-Amish kids in my class? Nay, I point thee to the spirit demon known as SLOTH. Webster did not act alone, to be sure. But the only reason I know what (thankfully) little of him that I do, is due to my youthful laziness.
For the record, in the battle of the kidney deprived 80's superstars, nowadays I would totally watch Webster over Gary Coleman, for the simple fact that apparently Webster (Emmanuel Lewis) knows kung fu. I want to see him in a buddy picture with Steven Seagal or something.
So! What have we learned here aside from the fact that I watch too much TV? Not much, I admit. But lets discuss this in the forums! You may find you yourself have given into sin.
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Posted by YourMomsBasement at 06:00 PM
by Won Kim
Crime films seem to dominate my viewing list these days. Some reviews follow...
Center: Lee Marvin in “Point Blank”. Clockwise from top left: Lee Byung Hun as Sun Woo, Alain Delon in “Le Samourai”, another shot of Lee Byun Hun, Jeon Du-Hung (right) faces off against Yakuza in “Fighter in the Wind”, Philip Kwok in “Hard-Boiled”, and Michael Caine and friend in “Get Carter”.
Kim Jae-Woon’s, “Tale of Two Sisters” (2003) is a stylish slow-burn horror-mystery based on an old Korean fairy tale (of surprising psychological depth) that featured memorable production design (think Laura Ashley from Hell), clever use of a classical score, and great performances by Im Su-Jeong and Mun Keun-Young as the sisters, and Yeom Jeong-Ah, who is unforgettable as the evil stepmother. Impressed put in a standing order for Kim’s next film, A Bittersweet Life (2005) which turned out to be equally stylish as “Sisters”, but otherwise a bit frustrating. The story is simple. A trusted mob enforcer, Sun-Woo (played by Lee Byung-Hun) finds that he cannot fulfill his boss’ latest order. He takes a big chance, and as a result, suffers terribly, then, having been a loyal mobster decides to retaliate. Hardly original as crime stories go. However, what matters in genre films like this, is not what happens, but how the story is told, and the film is certainly stylish. The world Sun-Woo operates in is filled with dramatic locales as shiny and reflective, as the settings in Michael Mann’s urban crime stories “Thief” and “Heat”, and fans of those films will no doubt like “Bittersweet”. The fight scenes are brutal and well choreographed by Jeon Du-Hong (“Fighter in the Wind”, “No Blood No Tears”) particularly the extended finale. There’s one sequence involving low-rent illegal gun dealers that stands out for its’ grim humor.
Whether one considers the film a success or not depends on how one reacts to the casting of Lee Byung-Hun in the lead role. Michael Hodges’ memorable “Get Carter” (1971) and John Boorman’s “Point Blank”, work so well in part because Michael Caine and Lee Marvin look like people who intimidate, and otherwise brutalize, others for a living. Caine and Marvin make it believable when they endured beating after beating and dish out death and destruction in return. I felt Lee’s youthful good looks worked against him in “Bittersweet”. He stands out a bit too much among his fellow mobsters, who are a generally dangerous looking, bunch indeed. found myself wishing the producers and filmmakers had cast Jeon Du-Hung (the black-clad enforcer in “No Blood No Tears”, a demonic martial arts master/sorcerer in “Arahan”, and the noble martial arts teacher in “Fighter in the Wind”) in the lead. He has craggy looks for the role. As with Jeon’s fellow actor and fight choreographer, Phillip Kwok (“Five Deadly Venoms”, “Hard Boiled”) I hope Jeon gets a few starring roles in some well-directed action films before either of them gets much older. Both men look great on film, have the requisite acting ability, and are “hell on wheels” in motion. Compounding matters, Lee’s character, Sun-Woo, is a cold-blooded perfectionist (well illustrated by his first scene in the movie, involving an interrupted meal) and a relatively repressed man, a key plot element in the story. Though Lee Byung-Hun has turned in an engrossing and sympathetic performances “JSA: Joint Security Area”, in “Bittersweet” I suspect he was asked to underplay his character’s reactions. (This is reinforced by the late revelation of his reasons for making a critical choice early in the film.) This was a mistake. Lee doesn’t get to externalize Sun-Woo’s emotions until his enemies put him ‘through the wringer’. Cold blooded killer that he is, we need to sympathize with him earlier on in the story, as we did with Jean Reno’s Leon, in “The Professional”. The rest of the cast is fine. Shin Min-Ah (“Volcano High”) stands out as a young cellist Sun-Woo is assigned to watch, as does Min Hwang-Jeon as a nasty piece of work named Baek, the leader of a rival gang.
Given the high quality of the production, and action scenes, I expect “A Bittersweet Life” to get released in a Region One DVD edition. With the above reservations in mind, I think many people will still enjoy it. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you like Michael Mann’s work, and if Alain Delon’s stoic good looks didn’t get in the way of accepting him in films like “Le Samourai” and “The Sicilian Clan”. If it the answer to both questions is yes, give “A Bittersweet Life” a try, you’ll like it better than I did.
Top to bottom: David Belle, Bibi Naceri & Dany Verrissimo as Leito, Taha, and Lola in “Banlieue 13”. Belle begins a descent, film poster illustration.
The title of Luc Besson’s Banlieue 13 (2004) stands for a district in a near future Paris, a multi-racial ghetto, abandoned by the municipal government (which walls the entire neighborhood off from the rest of Paris) as an ungovernable underclass enclave. In lieu of a central authority, what passes for order in the district is maintained by a crime boss, Taha, and his lieutenant, K2. Leito, a low-rent Robin Hood, played by David Belle, the chief exponent of an form of acrobatic fighting that utilizes the handholds and abutments found in any urban setting, and fantastic leaps from building to building. (For more information on Parkour, see: http://www.urbanfreeflow.com/FRPK_parkour_...r_beginners.htm ) Leito’s personal crusade against Taha takes a bad turn and he lands in prison. Taha gets his hands on a nuclear weapon, a neutron bomb mounted on a small missle, and the government teams Leito up with Damien (Cyril Raffaelli), a member of an elite police unit trained for high-risk situations, to enter the district, locate and disarm the bomb. Jackie-Chan/Tony Jaa-like mayhem ensues, with dialogue that reminds me of an updated version of Denny O’Neil’s dialogue in “Green Lantern-Green Arrow”, with the predictable twist that the cop is more idealistic in his straight razor way, than the much more cynical vigilante. Other than a gritty showcase for Leito and Raffaelli’s enviable physical skills, there isn’t else to recommend “Banlieue 13”, except to say the settings have the look of the decaying urban settings of European science fiction comics, particularly Tanino Liberatore’s “Ranxerox” ( http://www.valdisangro.it/arte/liberatoreg...primapagina.htm ). I wish the filmmakers had gone further in this regard. Some creative costuming, as seen in the Chinese ghettos depicted in Jeong Yun-Su’s unfairly maligned, Yesterday”, would have helped a lot. Still for the undemanding fans of films like Tony Jaa’s “Ong Bak”, or Besson, Louis Letterier and Cory Yuen’s “Transporter” films, “Banlieue 13” for a decent evenings diversion.
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Posted by YourMomsBasement at 08:00 PM
"No. I'd have never allowed a writer to make Batman slap Robin. Why would you even ask that?"
Infinite Crossover Exiled Champion Inferno Genesis Collector's Item Classic!
"Oh, Green Lantern, if only I had your power ring when I was fighting that spatial anomaly in the Alpha Quadrant. Or that spatial anomaly in the Beta Quadrant. Or that spatial anomaly in the Delta Quadrant. Or those fucking Klingons."
"Crisis? Sure. Infinite? I don't think so. I know infinite. This ain't it"
Actual Cry For Dawn model.
Rogue and... umm... someone... ah... kinda looks like um... Hey look, Rogue!
When did Andy Dick join the X-Men?
Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu or Hong Kong Phooey?
"Do you have your boxing glove arrow?" "Yes."
"Do you have your handcuff arrow?" "Yes."
"Do you have your dildo arrow?" "Ye- I mean NO. No. I don't. At all."
That many people came here for Liefeld?
"That many people came here for LIEFELD?!"
Posted by YourMomsBasement at 12:00 PM
DRAGONCON 2005: Sex Comes To Geektown
DRAGONCON 2005: Adult Swim Panel Recap/News
DRAGONCON 2005: Interview Luau
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Posted by YourMomsBasement at 02:00 AM
SEX COMES TO GEEKTOWN
words J. Brent Stewart
pics Danny Cash
Personally, this year’s Con had a much different vibe than past shows.
For one, there weren’t really any guests that I felt like I needed autographs or sketches from (although I did try in vain, as always, to get on Adam Hughes list…which I’ve been trying for about 8 years now…gah…), and there wasn’t much that I was looking to buy.
I’d brought along cash to blow in the event that the 1/2 Price Trades & Toys guy was there…but he wasn’t…and I was sad.
Your intrepid team of probably very drunk reporters.
Not to say that there wasn’t a lot going on. There was, as always. If nothing else, the con seemed bigger than ever. For the first time ever, the Hilton had been added to the Con Hotel line-up, and was now playing host to the registration process, which had formerly been hosted in the Hyatt.
Violet was awesome, but if anyone runs into that Elastigirl that we didn't manage to get a picture of, please forward her my marriage proposal. Homina!
As always, the Hyatt Regency hosted most of the events/concerts/panels, while the Marriott hosted the Exhibitor and Dealer rooms.
I knew that things were going to be a bit different when elevators were already hard to get on Friday morning. Normally those 20-minute waits don’t start up until Saturday afternoon.
Indeed, there were people…everywhere…at all times. The floor of the Hyatt was as packed on that early Friday night as it normally is on Sunday. And by the time Sunday night rolled around…it was a veritable sea of people.
So yes, it seems like our little freak convention in the south has caught on big-time. I expect that a lot of it has to do with people like me, posting reports like these, saying “Holy crap, you won’t believe what I saw at DragonCon!!!”
And now, a taste of random coolness from the con!
My personal favorite costume of the con, so low key and subdued, only the truly cool cats would pick up on it. The fact that I had to explain to my friends who this was supposed to be speaks volumes about the crumbling of our civilication. Kolchak Dude, you rock!
We wanted to find Lum later and show her my tattoo so she'd marry me, but we couldn't find her again. Damn the luck!
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Posted by YourMomsBasement at 01:50 AM
ADULT SWIM PANEL RECAP/NEWS:
words J. Brent Stewart
pics Danny Cash
Every year I look forward to the Adult Swim Panel. In my early D-Con days, this was actually the Cartoon Network panel, and it usually consisted of the Space Ghost guys doing voices and answering questions for an hour or so. Andy Merrill, where are you???
Of course, since that time, the brave little “Space Ghost Coast to Coast” program lead to an entire programming block known as Adult Swim, which slowly but surely has completely usurped the 18-whatever demographic that the advertisers want. No one is watching the news, or Leno, or Nightline. They’re watching cartoons about fast food detectives and an exploding underwater laboratory.
While the AS panel has grown in popularity every year, the D-Con programmers apparently felt that programming it against the big parade would help cut down on the crowd
They were wrong.
I mean, hell, even I skipped the parade this year, and I love a parade…in which Cobra Troopers, Storm Troopers and Klingons march through the streets of the ATL.
But I wasn’t alone in my AS preference. As I descended to the ballroom level, fifteen minutes before it was to start, I could see the line stretched all the way around the escalators.
Caught with their pants down, the D-Con people reacted quickly, and after some juggling, managed to get the entire crowd into the much larger Centennial Ballroom. It was actually a pretty smooth transfer, so props to the D-Con and Hyatt folks for getting it all resolved quickly and cleanly.
The panel opened with a montage of clips from the current slate of programs, and a preview of several new shows, including:
The Boondocks: Based on the controversial comic strip of the same name, this cartoon was actually announced at last year’s D-Con. I guess there were delays?
Lucy: Daughter of the Devil – This appeared to be a mostly CGI program, and the sneak we saw was hilarious. It sounds like H. Jon Benjamin (Dr. Katz, Home Movies, ATHF) is providing the voice of Satan. This one got big laughs, and looked the best of the new programs.
12 oz. Mouse – This one was previewed earlier in the year on AS, and apparently met with some small backlash. It’s very quirkily/cheaply animated, but I really found the preview interesting. More info below.
Minoriteam – Promised long ago, Minoriteam is apparently trying to see just how far the envelope can be pushed. This cartoon somewhat resembles those old late 60’s Marvel Comics cartoons, which were essentially just transfers of art from the comics, with very slight animation added to the mouths, etc. With characters such as Jewcano, El Jefe, Dr. Wang, illustrated in hyper-exaggerated Kirby style.
Squidbillies- Also promised long ago, this long-delayed show about redneck squids should finally see the light of day in the coming months. The preview was hilarious. Expect good things...
Moral Orel – A spoof of the Claymation Davey & Goliath cartoon, in which the son of a preacher is constantly doing wrong, while all he wants to do is right. Should prove suitably offensive to many folks. Hopefully it can also deliver laughs.
SwimBuddha, head of the AdultSwim.com site, announced that to fill the gap of Friday nights, the AS website is going to be hosting a new feature called Friday Night Fix on Sept 16th. This will feature sneak previews of new shows, premiered before they actually air, among other things. In fact…hey…that’s this Friday! Head over and check it out
An unfinished sequence from the upcoming “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” movie was screened, involving the Mooninites stealing the “Hypno Rims” from Carl’s new car. The sequence/subplot has since then been removed from the film, but these sequences will be edited and presented as an episode, or in some other form, during the normal television series.
Super-rare, probably-illegal still cap from ATHF flick!
At this time, a release date for the film is unknown. For budget and schedule reasons, it is meant to be finished by the end of the year. There was a major script overhaul a few months ago, which caused a bit of a delay. Also, it is unknown how the film will be released. There is talk that some actual film prints will be struck, and that it will be toured around college campuses. If this goes well, a full theatrical release (followed by the inevitable DVD) could be possible.
As ATHF editor Jay Edwards explained, “Like most movies today, theatrical is kind of advertising for the DVD.”
Some questions asked and addressed at the panel:
Evangelion: Neon Genesis Evangelion had been requested by fans for many years, and AS had been asking ADVision for many years for the rights. “Was it simply a matter of asking and ADV finally caving?”
According to programming coordinator Kim Manning: “Yes.”
Guest voices on ATHF: “Do they come to you, or do you seek them out?”
“Nobody comes to us…generally we have to beg. The big problem is that we’re a non-Union show, so actors that are in the Screen Actors Guild can’t do voices for us, or we can’t use their name, we can’t promote it…Generally the people we’ve asked have been glad to do it…We’re trying to get stunt voices for the movie. Basically there’s a fourth Aqua Teen who gets killed off who only has two lines, and we can’t to get, like, Tom Cruise to do the two lines. He said no way. We tried Bruce Campbell…that hasn’t come to a ‘no’ yet…” - JE
Status of pursuing their own AS channel –
“I think it’s something that we all think about. There are no definite plans to try do that yet. I mean, it would really be a big commitment, because we don’t have enough programming right now, to make that jump. So, maybe in a couple of years we’ll think about it, but we’re not quite there yet.” - KM
Status of Venture Bros –
“Second season is in production. We’re getting scripts, but we’re not sure when it’s going to be on the air, yet. Probably towards the end of next year.” - KM
“When does the next ATHF DVD come out” –
Dec. 6th. It was scheduled to hit in November, but it was moved back to be closer to Christmas. There will be extensive extras, such as a fan art gallery, ATHF fan songs, a 20-minute behind the scenes where you can see everyone recording voices for the show, an original short film called “Radon”, that has nothing to do with ATHF.
“Can I have a job”?
- “A good way to find out how to get a job is to ask the guys dressed up as Space Ghost and Moltar, because those are our interns.”
“Any hope for new Futurama?”
“Uh, maybe…We’re not in progress, we’re not doing anything towards making Futurama right now, but yeah, maybe”. - KM
“Are you considering ever showing anime that’s subtitled instead of dubbed?”
“Actually we are talking about doing that with one show right now. So, it’s not impossible. I think, generally, it’s not going to pull in as much of an audience, if we show it subtitled. Personally, I like to watch movies subtitled, the original voice acting is usually better.” KM
“Where 12 Oz Mouse came from”
“From Matt Maiellaro, kind of like a David Lynch fever dream drawn by an autistic child…it‘s a brilliant show, you just have to let it grow on you, like a fungus” - JE
I also personally asked the lovely and delightful programming goddess Kim Manning about the future of “Tom Goes to the Mayor”, my personal selection for best show on AS, and she confirmed that a second season is in production, that a DVD should be coming eventually, and that she also loves the show, which is good to hear, as many vocal AS fans have been downing it. Go to AS, join the boards, snail mail, email, etc. and support TGTTM!!!
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Posted by YourMomsBasement at 01:40 AM
THE BRENT STEWART INTERVIEW LUAU!!
words J. Brent Stewart
pics Danny Cash
Lloyd Kaufman interview!
DragonCon just wouldn’t be the same without the colorful Troma booth. Over the years, Troma founder/producer/director/actor Lloyd Kaufman has brought Toxie, Sgt. Kabukiman and the Tromettes to the con each year to premiere the latest of their indie offerings.
Sometimes ignorantly brushed off as z-grade schlock, Troma has definitely had its highs and lows, but at its best, Troma has been the pioneer of independent cinema in the states, and indeed, all over the world.
The success of “The Toxic Avenger” paved the way for the independently produced horror film onslaught of the 80’s, building a slavish cult audience, bridging the gap between punk rock and cinema. The film proved so popular, it has spawned three sequels, a Saturday morning cartoon, action figure line, and comic books.
Since then, Troma has produced and released dozens, if not hundreds of films.
“Chopper Chicks from Zombie Town”, “Surf Nazis Must Die”, “Tromeo and Juliet”, “Class of Nuke ‘em High”…no doubt you’ve come across a Troma film in your life. And if you managed to watch it without laughing or appreciating the good-natured absurdity of the goings-on, you’re truly dead inside.
Mr. Kaufman was nice enough to have a chat with us at the con this year.
Lloyd Kaufman Interview
YMB: First of all, I was wondering how “Poultrygeist” was progressing, and if you’ve wrapped shooting.
LK: “Poultrygeist” just finished about 2 days ago. “Poultrygeist” is Troma’s best movie so far. It’s got some songs, on-screen singing and dancing. It takes place in a fast food establishment. It satirizes the fast food industry, and also the limousine liberal crowd.
YMB: Will there be theatrical distribution for it?
LK: Yes, yes! It’s a 35mm film, and it’s booked already in about 300 theaters that’ll play it.
YMB: That’s great. When will it roll out?
LK: Probably summer of 2006.
YMB: Great. How do you see your influence on independent film, in America, and abroad?
LK: Quentin Tarantino is always talking about Troma. Peter Jackson, you know, you read his interviews, he looked at Troma movies, “Toxic Avenger”, “Tromeo and Juliet”. You know, Takashi Miike in Japan wrote a big article about “Citizen Toxie”…Claude Chabrol…it’s all over the world. You know, we’re not rich, but Troma’s reach…it’s our 32nd year, I think, and the reach of Troma is huge. It’s a tremendous influence. It’s an artistic movement.
YMB: I agree, absolutely.
LK: It’s also a bowel movement.
YMB: What do you think the impact of digital cameras and digital filmmaking is on the world of indie film. Is it a better way to go for you, or do you prefer film?
LK: Well, I prefer 35mm film, but, you know, that costs about half a million dollars a movie. But we’ve financed some digital films…Tales from the Crapper is digital, and it’s very good.
We’ve got the United States premiere here at DragonCon of this film “Parts of the Family”. It’s brand new. It’s a very Troma-esque film, and it’s shot on 16mm and video together, because it makes light of the television media.
YMB: Is that showing this weekend?
LK: It showed last night at the DragonCon opening ceremonies.
YMB: Finally, we had someone that wanted us to ask you about “Frankenstein vs the Creature from Blood Cove”.
LK: Right, I acted in that film. It’s a very good film. I do a lot of acting. You know, a lot of my protégés are making movies now, like James Gunn, who just directed “Slither”, with the star of “Henry the Portrait of a Serial Killer”, and I acted in that. If you go to http://www.LloydKaufman.com you’ll see that I’ve been in about a hundred movies. I’m in “Poultrygeist” too. I sing and dance in “Poultrygeist”.
YMB: Can’t wait to see it!
LK: It’s pretty shitty, but…
So kids, keep your eyes peeled for “Poultrygeist” (which I reported on earlier this year over at www.totallygoblin.com), and head over to www.troma.com and www.lloydkaufman.com! The good people of Troma are still doing what they do best, and are doing it because they love it.
Sid Haig Interview!
I was surprised to find Sid Haig at DragonCon, as I hadn’t seen him listed in any of the promotional material. I’d had a chance to meet him the previous year (and get a picture with him, and a signed 8x10 from “Spider-Baby”) but couldn’t pass up a chance for
a quick interview.
Mr. Haig’s story as an actor is a fascinating one, as he has worked through a couple of generations of filmmakers, initially making his impact with the great Jack Hill grind house flicks (Coffee, Foxy Brown, Scissor Sisters, etc.) However, most movie fans of
today know him as the sinister clown Captain Spaulding, from Rob Zombie’s films “House of 1000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Rejects”.
Mr. Haig was very gracious and generous in allowing us a few minutes of his time for this interview. Be sure to head to www.sidhaig.com and check out what he’s up to now!
YMB: I love the films you did with Jack Hill. Of those, “Spider Baby” is probably my favorite. Do you have any personal favorites from that era, or memories of that time?
SH: With Jack? Geez, I had so much fun doing all of them. It’s really hard to pick. We’ve done, like, eight films together. We met in 1961, and we’ve been friends and cohorts and working partners all that time. All of his stuff is great.
YMB: The finished films of Corpses and Rejects were very different kinds of movies. Was the making of the films also very different?
SH: Yeah, it was, it was. “The Devil’s Rejects” was much more concentrated, because we were all together, and we were pretty much separated on the first one. We were all together; we were basically in the same location, for the whole time, in the desert of
Southern California. Plus the fact that we had all become a lot closer, as friends, and were pretty much operating as family. So, just better all the way around.
YMB: One of my favorite things about TDR was the tremendous cast, so many great genre and character actors. Do you think it says something that a film like TDR has so many great actors, whereas most mainstream pictures have “names”, and what is the difference in the resulting quality of the pictures?
SH: Rob Zombie is a talent magnet, ok? And people that are in the music industry or the film industry just want to be around him, want to work with him. Most of those people that were in the film were basically not contacted by Rob; they contacted him. So, that says something for him, you know, the way he affects people.
YMB: Just one last question. What new projects are you working on now?
SH: I have a film that I just finished in Indiana that I’m very proud of, it’s called “Little Big Top”, and it’s a dramedy, if you want to call it that, that has some very humorous moments in it. It’s a slice of life piece. It’s about a guy whose life is pretty much destroyed, works his way out of it, and has a really heroic ending. So I’m really happy about it.
YMB: Will it be rolling out soon?
SH: It will probably be out within a year, we just finished it. It’s going to hit the film festival circuit first. I think they’re going to finish it time to enter it in Sundance, and hopefully that happens.
YMB: Sounds great, thanks!
Mr. Haig is a friendly guy and a very talented actor who has been in pretty much every kind of film you can imagine. Again, check out his site at www.sidhaig.com, and look for “Little Big Top” in the future! In the meantime, check out my review of “The Devil’s Rejects”, which I thought was a blast of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant summer for films:
http://www.totallygoblin.com/blog.aspx?id=7794
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Posted by YourMomsBasement at 01:30 AM
by Rajan Khanna
Sometimes I hate Neil Gaiman. As a writer, what bothers me the most is the seeming ease with which he tells stories. It's obvious that he's a natural storyteller, with what feels like the perfect authorial voice. That natural ease and fitting voice are showcased very nicely in his latest novel, Anansi Boys.
Anansi Boys is the story of a man called Fat Charlie, and yet it is also the story of Anansi, because as Gaiman tells us, all stories are Anansi stories*. Some people have been calling this book a sequel to American Gods, but to paraphrase Gaiman, it's a story that has a character who also appeared in American Gods. So they share the same world but they aren't necessarily connected.
That character is the aforementioned Anansi, the Spider God, the trickster, introduced in American Gods as Mr. Nancy. The book opens with Fat Charlie Nancy, his son - an average guy with a crappy job, a mundane life, a fear of being noticed, and a fiancée who won't sleep with him. Fat Charlie has had a troubled relationship with his father, but after much agonizing decides to invite him to the upcoming wedding only to find out that his father is dead. As the story unfolds, Charlie starts to realize that there is more to his life than he knew, and learns of the unique peculiarities of his family.
I won't say anymore so as not to spoil it for anyone, but Gaiman calls on the rich tradition of African myths and weaves them seamlessly into Charlie's story. Again, he modifies his voice as he tells these stories so they feel more authentic and natural. While these myths and stories could seem jarring, they integrate well into the story, helping to illuminate parts of it, helping to give it more background.
This is Neil Gaiman by way of Kurt Vonnegut. That's not a comparison that I've made before, but the humorous tone of the book, the aggregation of coincidence, they all gave the book a Vonnegut vibe. I suppose it's not surprising. Both authors have such unique voices. You generally know when you're reading a Vonnegut book. Gaiman's voice is a different one, but similarly unique and present. That's not to say that all of his books sound the same, but they all have a certain Gaiman-ness to them that adapts to fit the tone of the book.
It's such an easy read that I found myself unable to put it down. It was one of those books where I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter, one more..." It's light reading, not because it's lacking substance or content, but because it's so damn entertaining. And part of that is due to the humor in the book. This is a funny book - not in the same vein as, say, Terry Pratchett - but there are some parts that may make you laugh out loud. I have a sometimes difficult relationship with 'funny' books - they have a tendency to leave me cold. This one worked; the humor was natural, coming from the situations which, while including gods and strange animals and magic, are often those that we can relate to.
And yet it's not all humor. There's some mystery in the book, a touch of creepy horror. There's romance and crime. And of course, magic. We are talking about Neil Gaiman here. He somehow manages to keep the magic understated while still maintaining a sense of wonder with it. He is, essentially, remaking myths for a modern tale.
My only criticism of the book, if pressed, would be that I never really felt a true sense of menace, and much of the ending of the book was telegraphed earlier on. However, this never really bothered me. The story never bogs down and I kept on reading, wanting to get to the end, wanting to see if it was what I was expecting.
I loved American Gods, and it might be my favorite of Neil Gaiman's prose works, but I had much more fun reading Anansi Boys. I get the feeling that Gaiman had more fun writing it, too.
Anansi Boys is scheduled for release on Tuesday, September 20 at a bookseller near you.
* The stories used to belong to someone else, but you'll have to find out who in the book.
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Posted by YourMomsBasement at 11:12 AM
It’s that time of year again. Time for sweaty, muscle-bound men in tight pants fondling the asses of sweaty, pudgy men in tight pants while being chased around by other sweaty, muscle-bound men trying to throw tapered leather balls back and forth, with the occasional pile-up of man-meat. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited. I’m here to tell you who’s a top and who’s a bottom.
AFC
The AFC is wide open this year. There are only three teams that clearly won’t challenge for a playoff berth, and one that probably won’t. Everyone else has a decent shot. That means 12 teams for 6 spaces. Nuts, right?
1. New England Patriots
It's all about the bling-bling and the bitches
Can they do it without Crennel, Weis, Bruschi and Johnson? Is Belicheck that good? We’ll find out this year. Until it’s proven otherwise, I’m going to go with “yes.”
2. Indianapolis Colts
They have to play almost perfect this season, because I don’t see Peyton breaking his Belicheck Jinx in Foxboro. Fortunately for the Colts, it looks like they’ve got the personnel on defense to do it.
3. Baltimore Ravens
All the preseason rankings are sweating the Jets, but the Ravens’ switch to a 4-3/4-6 alignment is terrifying. If Boller’s half as good as he’s supposed to be, they could be playing deep into January.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
The AFC’s top-ranked offense gets Patrick Surtain, Kendrell Bell and Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Derrick Johnson. If the defense is any good, this team will be great.
5. San Diego Chargers
If Brees plays like he did last year, Philip Rivers will be traded next year and Schottenheimer will still choke in the first round of the playoffs. Because that’s Martyball.
6. New York Jets
HEIMERDINGER!
The Jets have a young secondary, which isn’t a huge problem in a division with JP Losman and whatever tackling dummy the Dolphins throw out there. What is a problem is their weakness at defensive tackle, in a division with Dillon, McGahee and Ricky Williams.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
A decent defensive improvement will certainly be enough for a winning record, and maybe enough for a playoff berth.
8. Houston Texans
If their offensive line can play and their defense can get some stops, they’ll finish 9-7. If not, Dom Capers will be collecting unemployment come January.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
The question in Jacksonville is: who’s going to catch the ball? Jimmy Smith is aging and slowing, and Reggie Williams and Matt Jones are both young and inexperienced. I see .500 for them.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Make it so.
Bill Cowher is the most consistent coach in the league. Even years, his team loses in the AFC Championship game. Odd years, they miss the playoffs completely. It’s like the Star Trek rule for football. Odd numbered year this year.
11. Buffalo Bills
Their defense and running game are great, but Losman is a blank slate. If he plays well, limits mistakes, and throws accurately (and frequently) enough downfield to keep defenses out of the box, they’re higher than 11th.
12. Denver Broncos
The Broncos would be awesome but for three things: Jake Plummer sucks, the Broncos defense sucked ass when it was the Browns defense, and Shanahan sucks. They’re highly overrated this year.
13. Oakland Raiders
Their offense will be loads of fun, but their defense will be enough to drive Kerry Collins to drink.
…too soon?
14. Tennessee Titans
Como estan, bitches?
NORM CHOW, BITCHES! With another year of cap space and another year of progress for their preschool-aged defense, they’ll compete. Next year. This year will be rough.
15. Cleveland Browns
Dilfer is too steady for them to go 0-16, or even 1-15. Yeah. That’s all I got for them. OOH OOH OOH! Also, Braylon Edwards wore the best draft day suit.
16. Miami Dolphins
If all 53 players on the Patriots, all 53 Jets, and all 53 Bills get season-ending injuries before week 6, the Dolphins MIGHT make the playoffs.
NFC
The NFC is getting better. There’s still a small group of “haves,” and a big group of “have-nots.” The “haves” group is getting bigger, though.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
They earned the #1 spot, and as such, it’s theirs to lose. But they’re on that road. Losing Pinkston, Buckhalter and Simon were big hits. And an unhappy Westbrook and TO being TO aren’t helping, either. They’re only one injury away from a bad, bad year.
2. Atlanta Falcons
If Vick progresses significantly, they will challenge for the top spot. As it is, they’re number 2 on the strength of their defense. They’ve got holes at wideout, but they’ve also got Vick.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Despite losing Moss, this team should be a lot better. Smoot, Winfield and Napoleon Harris are all a big step up over last year. So why do I have lingering doubts about this team? Mike Tice. If he’s as crappy as I suspect, they’ll struggle to make the playoffs.
4. Carolina Panthers
Hey man, I'll tell you what man, you dang ol' drove it here. I'm talkin' about you... Drive it back. Dang ol' traitors, man
They have a quick defense and that ridiculous, 135-headed Hydra running game. And John Fox and Jake Delhomme, a consistently underrated quarterback. They’re the “sexy” Super Bowl pick, and I’m not so sure I disagree.
5. Dallas Cowboys
Everyone’s RAAAAAAAAAving about their defense, and freaking out about Bledsoe. As with everything else, reality is probably somewhere in between. They could put a scare in the Eagles this year.
6. Detroit Lions
Harrington’s under a ton of pressure this year, but with all the weapons he’s got, it would be hard to be anything but decent.
7. Seattle Seahawks
I have no idea how the NFC West is going to shake out. My gut says Holmgren plus an unknown, probably mediocre defense plus wideouts who can’t catch is still greater than Mike Martz.
8. Chicago Bears
HA! You think I’m crazy, don’t you? Their defense is going to be solid this year, and I’ve thought highly of Kyle Orton since I first saw him play at Purdue. I don’t think they’ll make the playoffs, but they’ll definitely be respectable this year.
9. St. Louis Rams
Do you think Mike Martz wakes up every day and says to himself, “I’m so awesome, I make me want to crap my pants.” And then, whenever he walks past a mirror, he actually does crap himself? Grooming must be difficult. Their offensive line is a mess, their secondary is a mess, their running backs are not good, linebackers are a mess. They actually may be significantly worse than I’m projecting.
10. Arizona Cardinals
They’re definitely on the rise. JJ Arrington could be good, and they’re set at receiver, but they still have no defense to speak of.
11. New Orleans Saints
This team is so hard to read, especially after Katrina. They’ve got the talent to make a run, but they’ve lacked consistency, heart and good coaching. Who knows how things will change for them. They could make the playoffs, they could have the first pick next year.
12. New York Giants
Isn't he adoreable?
On both offense and defense, they look improved, but still a year away. On the bright side, I’m quite enjoying the “kinder, gentler” Tom Coughlin. You just wanna hug him.
13. Green Bay Packers
Their great offensive line took a step backwards this offseason. As for their defense, they might stop more people if they put 11 street cones at random places in the field. “Pray they trip” should be the team’s motto.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another team ravaged by age and the cap. They should just put in Simms and make him learn on the fly.
15. Washington Redskins
I like Joe Gibbs. Nice guy, pretty good coach. But is there a way for the Feds to take over for Dan Snyder? At this point, I think FEMA would do a better job managing that team.
…too soon?
16. San Francisco 49ers
Smith, Frank Gore, and Mike Nolan are all steps in the right direction. Losing Herrion is going to make it a tough year for them, though.
PLAYOFFS:
Seeding:
1. Patriots 1. Eagles
2. Colts 2. Falcons
3. Ravens 3. Vikings
4. Chiefs 4. Seahawks
5. Chargers 5. Panthers
6. Jets 6. Cowboys
Wild Card:
Ravens over Jets, Chiefs over Chargers (and boy will that chap Marty’s ass)
Vikings over Cowboys, Panthers over Seahawks
Divisional:
Patriots over Chiefs, Colts over Ravens (in a much better game than last year’s)
Panthers over Eagles (the running game), Vikings over Falcons (I don’t know. Going with my gut.)
Championship:
Patriots over Colts (Colts over Patriots if it’s in Indy)
Vikings over Panthers (I DON’T KNOW SHUT UP!)
Super Bowl:
Patriots over Vikings
Posted by YourMomsBasement at 05:00 PM
