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Post by Mickey on Aug 8, 2007 13:01:55 GMT -5
I see some serious stuff has happened since the last time we chatted. I'm thrilled to hear that she's doing okay and she's down to her final two treatments. I'll keep her in my prayers that the tumor is destroyed on a molecular level. Other than that, it's good to be back and I am no longer on the Disney payroll, at least until next year. You sure do get a lot of perks, don't you? I got a ton just being a grub. I can't imagine the kind you get. So um, how are you doing?
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Post by slicknickshady on Aug 9, 2007 16:46:12 GMT -5
29 Day's left untill the finale swenlin. I'm excited. I can't believe in less than a month KP will be over with.
I have a question.
When Co-Writeing the finale did you have as much controll as you would in writing a normal episode? I mean besides the fact that you co-wrote it with Thomas Hart. Did Bob or Mark tell you guys like what needed to be in it for sure or did they basically let you guys come up with it?
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Post by swenlin on Aug 21, 2007 18:40:46 GMT -5
29 Day's left untill the finale swenlin. I'm excited. I can't believe in less than a month KP will be over with. I have a question. When Co-Writeing the finale did you have as much controll as you would in writing a normal episode? I mean besides the fact that you co-wrote it with Thomas Hart. Did Bob or Mark tell you guys like what needed to be in it for sure or did they basically let you guys come up with it? We actually had less control... way less. Anytime there's an "event" episode on any show, it is scrutinized more heavily during the process. Step 1: We'd all talk about the dots - Tom & I, Mark and Bob and the Disney execs. Step 2: Tom and I would work on connecting all the dots as best we could. Step 3: Then there would be new meetings and half of the dots would be thrown out and new dots would be added. Step 4: Repeat first three steps. The process would repeat itself until our contract ran out and then Mark & Bob took over. Then, Steve became a major creative voice in the direction during post production and editing. He and M&B worked and reworked the footage until everyone settled on the final version. I still haven't even read the final version of the script, much less seen any footage. I did talk to Steve at one point and he gave me a run down on the highlights, so I'm only slightly less in the dark than you. Tom and I wrote the very first draft, but that was heavily altered after us. We still get writing credit though - maybe even sole. A story editor can throw out your entire draft and completely rewrite the story and you'd still get sole writing credit. Revisions, be they heavy or light, usually fall under the job description of story editor. So in the case of this finale, it's definitely a group effort.
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Post by slicknickshady on Aug 21, 2007 18:54:53 GMT -5
Awesome stuff Swenlin. Can't wait. Thanks.
After it airs if you can post a % of how much the first draft was changed.
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Post by nabusan on Aug 22, 2007 1:51:38 GMT -5
That's so sad, I'm in mourning for the lost dots.
If I was a writer and my work got heavily edited, I'd take it personally ^^
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Post by Yamal on Aug 22, 2007 2:01:31 GMT -5
But you have to understand that it's the way things are, nabusan. They are proffesionals, after all, and they know what's going to happen being part of a working group. ^__^
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Post by swenlin on Aug 25, 2007 2:36:07 GMT -5
But you have to understand that it's the way things are, nabusan. They are proffesionals, after all, and they know what's going to happen being part of a working group. ^__^ I was just going to say something along those lines. It's really really hard at first to have your material cut and reworked - you really do take it personally, but the longer you do it, the easier it gets. Like those first cuts before you become calloused, but being able to personally invest in the writing, but detach for the editing (be it at your hand or someone else's) - that's when you're on your way to being a professional. Writing is all about rewriting.
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Post by slicknickshady on Aug 25, 2007 2:46:16 GMT -5
yeah i wanted to see that ill suited kiss that got cut. oh well as you say it's all part of the job.
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Post by CJS: The Last Fender Bender on Aug 29, 2007 19:02:46 GMT -5
What was the biggest challenge you faced when writing Mad Dogs and Aliens?
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Post by rd on Aug 29, 2007 20:03:37 GMT -5
What was the biggest challenge you faced when writing Mad Dogs and Aliens? I'd guess that would be coming up with an expletive like *Frackle*
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Post by Kimron Posstoppable on Aug 30, 2007 22:51:05 GMT -5
I've been meaning to ask you this for awhile now.... Which episodes of Darkwing Duck were you involved in? Do you have a favorite episode?
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Post by swenlin on Sept 1, 2007 0:24:15 GMT -5
What was the biggest challenge you faced when writing Mad Dogs and Aliens? I'd guess that would be coming up with an expletive like *Frackle* Nice. The biggest challenge was the deadline. ;D Aside from that, it was probably the B-story with Ron and the tweebs. All the action stuff was a fruitful playground - the challenge there was trimming it all down. Originally, the tweeb stuff had to be more substantial, so I had to work out their whole angle and Ron's jealousy, but in the end, all the tweeb stuff was cut for time. I felt a big responsibility (and thrill) in writing the first Drakken/Shego episode of the season - FINALLY Drakken was getting out... and it was on MY watch! Not like I was out there cooking this stuff up in a vaccuum Mark, Bob & and Tom all had their ideas and were helping me sort things out, but I was really excited about getting the first Drakken episode. In my first draft (not even submitted, I don't think) that chess game between Drakken and Lucre was like 3 or 4 pages... it was ridiculously long. As was the spa fight. I remember working late, after hours in my office, when I got to scripting Shego's return to the HQ and realizing - this is the first time Drakken and Shego have been together since So the Drama. I knew before then, obviously, but it was really sinking in as I was there on the page - and it was a pretty cool feeling. Another challenge was Warmonga - we knew she was a warlike alien, but it was kind of left up to me to figure out what her weapons and fighting style. I give the artists meg-props for creating the look of her alien technology/ship/HQ. I originally had Warmonga's home planet of Lorwardia located "...in the armpit of the constellation we know as Orion" and after Shego learns this, she always refers to Warmonga as an "Armpittian", but that was one of those things that never made it into the final draft. As it is now, you get that priceless exchange between Drakken and Shego where they just kind of shrug at each other as Warmonga prattles on. I wouldn't trade that moment for anything now - it's such a small moment, but it's one of my favorite things in the episode.
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Post by swenlin on Sept 1, 2007 0:29:10 GMT -5
I've been meaning to ask you this for awhile now.... Which episodes of Darkwing Duck were you involved in? Do you have a favorite episode? "In Like Blunt" was the first produced cartoon I ever wrote, so I have a particular fondness for it. All of my Darkwing episodes were written with then writing partner Kevin Campbell. "Battle of the Brainteasers" hat shaped mind control aliens invade. This was pretty much handed to us by Tad Stones. "Heavy Mental" - Launchpad gets psychic powers... and a big head. "The Liquidator" a problem story we inherited, introduction of the liquid-based sales villain. "Just Us Justice Ducks parts 1 and 2" the two-parter team up episode. "Life, The Negaverse & Everything" probably my fave. Negaduck was such a fun villain.
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Post by DP on Sept 1, 2007 0:40:04 GMT -5
"Armpittian". Lol. That's classic. ;D
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Post by nabusan on Sept 2, 2007 3:50:47 GMT -5
Awww, that was a great explanation! Thanks, Brian!
Btw, just noticed your site's gotten a makeover! Good job! But the scripts section is down, planning to upload anything juicy on KP's side?
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Post by swenlin on Sept 3, 2007 2:03:01 GMT -5
Awww, that was a great explanation! Thanks, Brian! Btw, just noticed your site's gotten a makeover! Good job! But the scripts section is down, planning to upload anything juicy on KP's side? Well, there was talk of me adding, "Oh No! Yono!" so if I can dig that up... (I think I found it on one drive, now I just have to get it onto this drive). Thanks for the makeover props. ;D I was going to announce it (and still will) once it's all done, but I'm dragging my feet on the samples section because I haven't decided exactly what I want to do with it yet. I'll keep you posted!!!
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Post by Darth_Comrade on Sept 3, 2007 2:08:18 GMT -5
Oh, looking forwards to that! ;D How did you come up with the whole Lorwardian culture/background? I just love them!
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Post by slicknickshady on Sept 4, 2007 0:24:05 GMT -5
Awww, that was a great explanation! Thanks, Brian! Btw, just noticed your site's gotten a makeover! Good job! But the scripts section is down, planning to upload anything juicy on KP's side? Well, there was talk of me adding, "Oh No! Yono!" so if I can dig that up... (I think I found it on one drive, now I just have to get it onto this drive). Thanks for the makeover props. ;D I was going to announce it (and still will) once it's all done, but I'm dragging my feet on the samples section because I haven't decided exactly what I want to do with it yet. I'll keep you posted!!! OMG If The Oh No Yono script is as brilliant as the Ill Suited script it will be out of this world.
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Post by Darth_Comrade on Sept 4, 2007 0:59:17 GMT -5
The finale totally ROCKED! Almost an hour of pure KP bliss! ;D Thank you Mr. Swenlin for all your badical creative efforts!!!
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Post by nabusan on Sept 4, 2007 11:57:53 GMT -5
Yeah, huge props to you Brian to the best written episode(s) EVER!
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