THE SIMPSONS NEWS

I finished both Acts 1 and 2 for Show 20 last week and now I’m done with Act 3 and working on Act 4. That’s crazy. This will be the first time I was able to revise an entire show on my own. Unfortunately, things are a bit more hectic than they need to be. I needed to stay late all week in order to be able to stay home with the kids on Friday, since day care will be closed that day.

Still, I’m glad I’m so ahead on the work.

VIDEO/GHETTOMATION

Went to the comic store with some pals from work a few weeks back. They met up a with a guy who one my friend Dave knew who had had made a Superman cartoon for fun. He had it on his iPhone and showed it to my friends but I was somewhere else in the shop and missed it. They couldn’t stop talking about it, they liked it so much. Well here’s what I missed out on for everyone to see. It was animated by veteran Disney animator Robb Pratt.

Ghettomation at it’s most fully animated.  And by Ghettomation  I mean you’re making an animated cartoon with the tools you have on hand, Guerrilla style.

WRITING

This week on my personal project, I’m working on Scene 2 from Act 1. As I did last week I’ll put my Scene synopsis first and then I’ll expound on it.

This one got looong. The purpose of the treatment is to overwrite so you have everything you can possibly think of covered. I was trying to do this which made it difficult to be brief.  I think once I’m done with this first pass on the treatment, I’m going to go over it one more time (though I probably won’t post it) just to make sure everything is working the way I want.  It’s REALLY difficult for me not to write dialogue here. Especially since it’s my favorite part.  I’m not saying I’m good at writing dialogue, I’m just saying I like to do it.

Scene 2 (Inertia/Order)

• The Sorcerers confront Rob about his past and his future. Rob defends by explaining the circumstances behind those moments. If left alone nothing would happen. They try to convince him to turn himself over to the Sorcerers so they can lock him up and keep him from becoming evil. Rob tells them he has no intention of taking over the world. The lead Sorcerer tries to convince Rob that his cause is just. Rob just want to be left alone. The Sorcerers won’t do that. Rob asks if he could at least have ten minutes to finish his hot dog. They discuss it among themselves and grant him ten minutes on the condition he hand over his weapon. (inciting incident)

Now, I expand it:

Outdoor Shopping Area – Day continued

Settling himself down and mentally kicking himself for not paying more attention to the people in the area, Rob tries to play it cool. He hopes that if he’s nice, they will leave him alone to eat his hot dog. He smiles up and greets them. Then he asks if it would be possible for them to wait a minute or two while he finishes his lunch.

The Lead Sorcerer doesn’t like the attitude Rob has taken and  suspects a ruse.  He ignores the happy attitude and asks Rob to come with him and his two allies.

This is new to Rob. He is a bit puzzled.  He usually just gets attacked and no one ever just asks him to come with them. He asks them where to and why.

The Lead Sorcerer thinks Rob is playing games so he tells him to stop.  He tells him he know where and why.

Anger builds up in Rob’s belly but he holds it back.  It is THEY that are bothering HIM.  What’s with the attitude.  Rob sincerely tells them that he suspects the why but not the where. He tells them that he suspects that they are here because they believe he’s some sort of evil dark lord that will take over the world.  He also tells them that since it isn’t true, he doesn’t think he’s going anywhere with them.  Especially since they seem so openly hostile.

The Lead Sorcerer is very surprised at this response.  He’s angered by the blatant denial of his evil actions.  He accuses Rob of lying about who he truly is.  He challenges Rob to deny that he has previously incapacitated 30 other Sorcerers that he has come in contact with.  He challenges Rob to deny the ruthlessness of those attacks upon them.  He challenges Rob to deny that such power should not be considered dangerous and signs of an evil nature.

Rob is shocked at the way this is put to him.  ALL does so called “attacks” where self defense.  He got attacked FIRST and he defended himself.  He can’t believe how out of context the situations are being portrayed.  He immediately argues back about that very thing. Rob is outraged by how they’ve twisted what really happened.

The Lead Sorcerer doesn’t believe Rob.  Though, he’s impressed with Rob’s very convincing acting ability. He does see a way to manipulate Rob’s act to his purpose. He proposes to Rob that if what he says is true, he would have no problem going with him and his companions to the Sorcerer’s High Tower and face trial. He tells Rob he will be set free and not bothered if what he said is found to be true.

It suddenly dawns on Rob what is going on.  He realizes that that’s where they want him to go.  They want him to go with them to some tower so he could be judged for defending himself. Rob can’t believe how messed up these guys are. He lets out a small laugh.

The Lead Sorcerer thinks Rob is mocking him and voices his outrage.

Rob tries to calm him down by telling him he wasn’t laughing at him, but at the ridiculous situation this was.  He asks the Lead Sorcerer if the Sorcerer’s High Tower is where they wanted to escort him to.

The Lead Sorcerer confirms this.

Rob knows from his dealings with the Sorcerers that they always get the facts mixed up.  These guys are only proving his suspicions.  Even though he knows what the answer will be, he asks the Lead Sorcerer what would happen if he refuses.

The Lead Sorcerer assures Rob that it would prove he is guilty, evil, and exactly what the prophesy says he is because actions speak louder than words. Since only the guilty run. Having him prove he’s guilty in this way, they would have to kill Rob on the spot, in order to save the world from his slavery.

Rob sees the writing on the wall. This is going to end in a fight. His stomach grumbles with a hunger pain, which only makes him MORE upset.  He tries to reason with the Lead Sorcerer, explaining that this was pretty much what led him to fight all the other Sorcerers. He tells him that they are only proving his point. He tells them he absolutely refuses to go with them. That all he wants is to be left alone, and more importantly, he wants to be able to just eat his lunch in peace.

The Lead Sorcerer didn’t want it to come to this, but he doesn’t have a choice and tells Rob this. He tried to reason with him, now it’s time to do it the hard way.  He knows his companions where looking forward to this.  They are itching to hurt Rob. They all get ready to attack.

Rob seeing this and calls out for them to stop.  He’s at the brink of frustration and irritation.  He decides to beg.  He pleads with the three to let him have five minutes to at least eat his hot dog.  Then he’ll allow them to try to kill them all they want.

The Lead Sorcerer considers this.  He sees a tactical advantage here but he wants to make sure he isn’t being duped.  He tells Rob that he needs to consult with his companions.  Keeping an eye on Rob, he steps aside with his companions and tells them what his plan.  He tells them that if Rob really wants these five minutes (as he seems to) perhaps he would be stupid enough to give up his weapon for it.  If it’s a trick, he would refuse, but if it’s NOT then he’s defenseless. The other agree but the other male Sorcerer thinks it would be foolish to give him the five minutes if he gives up his weapon.  He thinks they should attack him.  The Lead Sorcerer tells him it would be dishonorable to do such a thing if they bargain. The Other Male Sorcerer begins to argue but the Lead Sorcerer orders him to be quiet. They then turn to Rob and propose to give him five minutes to eat his lunch in return for his anti-Sorcerer weapon.

Rob considers. He’s so hungry.  He thinks to himself, why not? If he’s going to die, he might as well die after happily eating his hot dog. Besides, the darn thing always seems to end up in his hand no matter what he does.  If it finally stops being attached him, like a curse, it would be a win for him.  He looks up at the Sorcerers and agrees but only if they give him ten minutes instead of five.

They agree.

He reaches over to a loop on his belt and removes what looks like a tiny medical reflex hammer from it.  He hands it over to the Lead Sorcerer. He warns them that no matter how hard he tries, the hammer always finds a way back to him.

END OF SCENE

My big surprise as I’m writing this is, how honorable the antagonist is turning out.  It’s something unintentional but the story needs him to be so. I originally envisioned him as a big jerk. I may need to change his design a little because of this.

I think the next scene will be much shorter. I’m very excited that I’m getting closer to getting to the final art and boards.

For more comic and stories written by me, CLICK HERE.

If you like what you read, please consider signing up to my rss feed.

Comments are appreciated as well.

I also have a store. Click Here and check it out.

If you would like to have a text ad on my site, click on the red BUY LINKS button under the Archives list.

And while you’re at it, please Digg me too.

Writing this blog is almost a part time job for me. Tips are most welcome.