new writer needed for animation storyboard project

[pbcpres1]

i am looking for a writer that has basically no significant extracurricular activities in their daily life(basically, live-at-home types), so as to be able to spare 1-2 hours DAILY(mon-fri at least), to work on a storyboard submission package to send to Warner Bros, to attempt the re-airing of an 80s tv animation series, called TIGERSHARKS, which was done by the same studio as Thundercats, and Silverhawks.

what i am trying to do for more efficient/swift plotting/production is video conferencing via my webcam, and Yahoo messenger.

anyone who CAN DEFINITELY spare that kind of time, please ONLY contact me via YIM at dbppres. NO emails will be answered. thanks for your consideration.

[pbcpres1]

has ANYONE really thought about what my ad, and have any writers here given it serious thought?

[web crawler]

Hello pbcpres1,

please be patient with people on this site, I am sure those who have read your posting have definitely given it thought but may not be able to give to you what you are looking for as they may be engaged in other projects and with other things in life. I know that it becomes frustrating when people may be viewing the thread and there aren't any responses, trust me I really know as I have my own personal web domain http://www.road2discovery.ca where I still don't have one registered user not even my friends who I informed. I felt pretty disappointed and for a short while upset, believing that at the very least my friends should try to support me, but you know what you move on!

I have read your post and looked into the cartoon series to some extent, however, I am not too familiar with it other than the premise that there are these characters who grow into sharks when they go into the water. If my memory serves me correctly, the series aired from 1987-1989 but I can't quite remember. The characters look ok in how they are conceptually drawn but quite honestly I think the Thundercats look better! At one time there were these shark toys "thingys" that looked really cool, I forgot what they were called and I am now interested to find out if they were actually from Tigersharks.

If I were a prolific writer and someone who could move along the project without getting stressed out, I would have definitely jumped aboard with you on this one (it is only a matter of time these nostalgic cartoons will get made into a live action movie--I believe Voltair is in the process and I may have heard that there are plans for Thundercats--what to say of Tigersharks etc?) The other problem that i have is that I am not that tech saavy and doing video conferencing would definitely be a challenge and a whole lot of fun(grrr!--lol). I have noted that you are looking for someone who is willing to commit at the very least 1-2 hours a day Monday-Friday so you are definitely looking at a pretty strong commitment, something in which sadly but practically to say people would probably seek an incentive to give that type of time commitment. In the past, when I was trying to find artists to help illustrate some of my written works, it was like good luck unless you pay a commission or something, people seldom will work on a fee deferral basis, sharing of credits and profit etc. for a very good reason they have to look after their day to day expenses and a lot of these people are probably struggling to make ends meet! I know this is frustrating but this is the reality, something that I again honestly know what it feels like. I know that you are eager to repitch the idea back to Warner Brothers and think that you are onto a really good potential. I wish you all the best with your endeavors to possibly get this series resurrected and hope that you have great success with it! Good luck and take care!

with warmest regards,

Samir.

(PS you may find a little better response if you have some samples of your illustrations. Writers will want to work with an artist who has strong drawing foundations and talent--you are asking for quite a bit-- you have to prove to others that you are worthy and want to attract an equally worthy writer!)

[Wo-Nellie]

I may be incorrect, but it sounds as if you are looking for someone to write Tigersharks fan-fiction in an effort to re-boot the property.
Have you done a search for Tigersharks fan-fiction already written? You might be able to find the right material you are looking for and put story-boards to it if the fan-fic writer accepts your proposal. Perhaps the writer would even be willing to alter or further develop the piece they've already written. This would definitely save you a lot of time if the written material already exists.

[pbcpres1]

actually folks, what my part would be, as i mentioned before, would be to get the storyboard part on paper, along with whatever script material that the writer(s) and myself would agree to use.

i have to slightly sidetrack a minute here, because i would like to explain what i mean by video conferencing. the process that i am trying to use is one where only i use my webcam, and as the writer(s) look(s) on, anything that we agree should be sketched out, will be done so at that moment, and if any changes are suggested or mistakes made, then i can take care of them ASAP.

however, as the pics on on the site that i provided the link to will show you, i am more of the rough sketch skill level. the finish art would be sent to another artist that i could hopefully convince to join in on this project, and do so with only the faith that WB will pick it up again. an added incentive that i will inform the staff at WB about, will be my willingness to continue to help with plotting/storyboarding work, for FREE, at least for a while.

finally, here is the site link to another artist's(irvin harvey aka Numbaz, on the cartoon host site) and my contributed efforts to the project so far. http://www.80scartoons.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2812

[pbcpres1]

the position is STILL open, if anyone has any thoughts on trying out.

[Redcard1016]

The reason you’re having a problem getting someone to help you with your endeavor is because it’s something that’s never going to get made. The property you’re talking about is owned by Warner Bros. a large corporation that has connections to industry talent with proven track records. If you tried to go ahead at making their property you’d most likely be met with a cease and desist rather than a pat on the back.

If Warner Bros. were going to remake the show they would most likely hire a professional animation company to do so, not you. I’m not trying to be mean I’m just being realistic. If you want to break into animation I would suggest you create your own property that you have copyright ownership of and try to get it noticed on places like Youtube or other places that feature amateur cartoons.

[web crawler]

Hello Redcard,

while I agree with a lot of what you are saying, I don't think the intention is to remake something without Warner Brother's permission. I believe that the intention is to do what is called a spec storyboard/complete work for the series to encourage Warner Brothers to have another look at the series and see that there is potential with it if they give it a chance. I agree that the likelihood of Warner to give the project to proven animation companies would be very likely if they themselves wanted to have the series redone, but because they don't the series has been left as is. This allows for people who are interested in it to have the opportunity to work with it and establish that there could be a market especially if they create one. It is to this degree I would disagree, Warner would give a person a pat on the back and potentially hire the people on--IF they can show they can be responsible and potentially successful while taking a known brand and bringing it back to life.

As someone who has trained as a t.v. and screenplay writer, I know for a fact that what is being proposed is very possible-- there is something called the spec script. A spec script is a script that is written using established characters, creations, and worlds for the purpose of demonstrating your ability as a writer. Generally, the writer must prove that they are knowledgeable about the work by adhering to the characterization through the appropriate use of plotting, dialogue, and internal consistency and logic that has been created by the creators of the work. For the most part, these scripts will not tend to deviate from the original work but more or less emulate and be reflective of them. If the person who has written the spec script has done an excellent job, it will and does leave an impression on those who own the rights to such works and may open the doors for the writer to become a paid staff--write with a group of writers to put out t.v. series, movies are a little different because generally scripts are done by a few people not a writing staff!
Nevertheless, the principle for the spec script is the same--they are more or less used as calling cards to get companies' attention! Alot of what people do on PencilJack are spec scripts--they write and draw for characters which are already known keeping close to the characterization--people on this site will let you know if you're out of character (that's from a writing point of view--lol).

With this said, some people may take the bold move and alter the original work in noticeable and significant ways (i.e. the Battle Star Galactica series), in which case you will have a potentially harder sell because many people don't like their work to be changed for a couple of reasons: (1) those who are familiar with the original have come to know the series for what it is and will be hesitant to such changes thereby potentially killing the support of the loyalist (2) those who have created artistic works often find it hard to let go of their artistic vision, although there is a saying in Hollywood "you need to kill your babies." This is generally true of the writer unless he or she retains artistic control (virtually impossible for people to establish themselves but maybe less so for those who are established and proven--i.e. JK Rowlings with the Harry Potter movies but you have to be smart in negotiating!!!) because he or she is literally selling his or her work to the companies who buy the rights to it and compensate the writer with whatever monetary payment they give and screen credit. The big intrinsic issue is that the companies then have the right to make changes that the author will have to swallow. If the writer isn't impressed he or she always has the option to pull away from the project and ask not be given screen credit for the writing (i.e. Alan Moore for Watchman)--but nothing else unless they have negotiated in the contract that changes can only be made at the approval of the author--but once again good luck with that!

I think what is being proposed is a good thing and it gives people a chance to work towards something that is loved and should not be shot down so quickly without fully understand that there is a potential in what is being done. If a market can be created and there are possibilities I would say to people who are looking to seize them, go ahead and run with it, you don't have anything to lose!

[Redcard1016]

Web crawler, I’m very familiar with what a spec script is. I have a few of them currently being considered at a few independent production companies. Those companies have submission policies where you can pitch them your idea and if they like it they will ask to read your screenplay. Large companies like Warner Bros. do not have that kind of policy. Large production companies like that have a strict policy of not accepting unsolicited submissions. Were he able to find someone to help him with his project and they did complete his story board and sent it to Warner Bros. they would send it back to him unopened. Were he to call Warner Bros. himself to try to set up a meeting he wouldn’t get past reception. What you describe is not how the industry works.

You use Ronald Moore as an example. Ronald Moore was the executive producer of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and has many connections to the industry. He was approached by the people who own the rights to Battlestar Galactica to work on it. He didn’t pitch the show to them. That’s how it works.

I’m not knocking the ambition of the OP I’m just trying to lay down the facts of how things work in the entertainment industry. If you’re going to work in the industry you should know the reality of how things work. Unless the OP has an agent or a friend who can get him a meeting what he’s trying to do is just going to end up being a waste of time for him and whoever works with him. Now if he does have an inside connection then what he wants to do is very possible. Still a very remote chance of getting it done but better than sending in a blind submission.

[web crawler]

Hello Redcard1016,

Yes, you're right in what you have posted. I can't disagree with what you have said, given that the industry is "who you know, not necessarily what you know." In some cases as with Ronald Moore, they have capable people at creating good works but in other cases inept people whose work is simply less than average which is too bad--perhaps case in point as far as what I have heard was the actual script to Dudley Do Right, I heard that the original screenplay was far more clever than what was rendered in the end which is kind of a shame if it in fact got ruined. You win some and you lose some as far as Hollywood is concerned and again absolutely (as far as Hollywood is concerned), you would go with the proven talent which is likely to draw in the viewers and not some new comer who is a bit of a gamble--which is too bad though.

If Warner and others don't accept solicitations then what can you do but forget about them unless they call you on the very outside chance. If this is the reality than just accept the fate and move on--don't waste your time with these companies. Quite honestly, it is better to produce your own work because the majority of things made by Hollywood are adaptations of existing works and actually may be a person's best chance with possibly working "for" one of these companies.

Good luck to everyone with their future endeavors and may success smile on you.

with warmest regards,

Samir.