The TV/Film Thread

Tmoose · Post by **Tmoose** » Mon Dec 10, 2001 4:53 am

Hey T,Wanted to weigh in on the TV/Film thing. I am offended at what Hollywood is subjecting my eyes and my pocket book to. The amount of original ideas is sparce at best. I think Fans is original and fresh and it pays tribute to people who don't get a lot of spotlight even in these geeky times.A movie about fans for fans writen by a fan. What could be more cool? Hell, if Kevin Smith can do it, you can. I'm all for seeing Fans in different forms. And if it can get you and Jason the recognition you both deserve, more power to ya.^_^,
Jamie

Wish · Post by **Wish** » Mon Dec 10, 2001 7:11 am

Everyone's been talking a lot about animation and the possibility of animation in this thread, so I thought I'd put the weekend's experience to use. I have one or two friends in the animation business who are currently trying to produce some original series. One of them came to visit me this weekend. Apparently, the picture for animation is both very good and very bleak. It costs a LOT of money to produce animation, and there aren't a lot of investors who are willing to put money into a series right now. On the other hand, because there isn't much work in the industry at the moment, some of the best talent in the business is working for scale these days, rather than premium. At least, that's my understanding. I'm not an industry insider (I just happen to know one), so it's possible that things may not be as I paint them.-Wish
Let's play Spin The Planet!

Nullset · Post by **Nullset** » Mon Dec 10, 2001 7:52 am

Okay, T, I know that this was supposed to be a _weekend_ forum, but it was a busy weekend. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">Anyway, I'd like to support some of the ideas that Miritza, Amorph, and Manticorus put forward.Of course, doing a novel or three would be nice, give you lots of control, and you could easily publish it youself. That would be grand.You've tried comics once, with Faans!, and your Submission Theater has shown us work you've done to try and get back in the dead tree comic book world. I'm not as excited about your prospects there.I really don't think the TV or movie industries are ready for Faans! at this time.But doing an animated or live action Faans! OAV or web film series might go over well. I honestly believe that web video will stand on equal footing with the current broadcast outlets in the near future. Anyway, it gives complete control and many fewer hoops to jump through.I would suggest, though, that if you do any sort of video, keep it in black and white. It keeps a tie with the web comic, it adds atmosphere, special effects can be done much more cheaply (the Xenochiclet Saga), and it reduces your bandwidth requirements for streaming over the web.You may want to consider _not_ keeping to continuity for video productions. Not only is the writing different (as you already know) but trying into the current back log of story could be a toughy. Also, direct adaptations of previously released Faans! may not be in a new outlet's best interest.Hope this helps somehow.Nullset out.

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » Tue Dec 11, 2001 8:51 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Shatteredtower:
Sort of like how you always find something in the last place you look? <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/biggrin ... TE>Well, once you find something, of course you stop looking, now, don't you?

Shatteredtower · Post by **Shatteredtower** » Tue Dec 11, 2001 9:49 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Aurora:
 Well, once you find something, of course you stop looking, now, don't you?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>That was my point. However, often I don't stop looking once I've found what I was looking for in the first place, because I keep finding new and interesting stuff or rediscovering old interests.I really need to do a better job of housekeeping. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/redface.gif">

Jarnor23 · Post by **Jarnor23** » Tue Dec 11, 2001 10:27 am

Well, as far as Keenspot prospects go, I received an email in response to my query along these lines that Fans! is a HEAVY contender for spotdom when they can add more spots. It wouldn't be the perfect solution, but it would help the bills out for T, I'm sure.So, why don't you kids all send a little email to the spot today (keenspot@keenspot.com), and see if we can't help T out a bit here? I'm sure every request counts in their minds...Jarnor23[This message has been edited by Jarnor23 (edited 12-11-2001).]

Amorph · Post by **Amorph** » Wed Dec 12, 2001 1:11 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>You're right, Wish, animation does have high overheads. Most modern animation is outsource from the US to other countries because of this very fact. On the other hand, there have been massive in-roads made on the front of limited animation (Flash and the like).
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>That's why I pointed out Toon Boom Studio in my post. It apparently does a lot of the grunt work for the animator. It would be worth it to investigate the medium, and publish to the Web at least (although I think it's capable of producing cel animations as well). It's vector animation, of course, so it has infinite resolution.As for Keenspot, I'm glad that Fans! is under "serious consideration" (it had better be!) but I'm not really sure if that would translate to much in real terms.
------------------
James"Without death there would be very little progress." - Steve Jobs

Nullset · Post by **Nullset** » Wed Dec 12, 2001 11:48 am

I've wondered from the time I started reading Faans! why it was hiding here in Keenspace when it is of better quality (production-wise) than 99% of the Keenspot strips.You're right, Wish, animation does have high overheads. Most modern animation is outsource from the US to other countries because of this very fact. On the other hand, there have been massive in-roads made on the front of limited animation (Flash and the like). I recall watching a nicely done series in 1999, Neutron Girl or something, and found it very entertaining dispite the animated comicbook feel as opposed to true animation.BTW, has everyone left the forum for the holidays? It seems pretty quiet here lately.Nullset out.

Strangeone · Post by **Strangeone** » Wed Dec 12, 2001 12:08 pm

If Fans is added to Keenspot, it might not be for a while, after all, four comics were just added a few months ago.

Xnext_coder · Post by **Xnext_coder** » Wed Dec 12, 2001 12:12 pm

Dang...gone for a month on a family issue and now FANS! is going to hit the silver / motion screen. AWESOME!Personally, all I've got to say is this - I'd make a great Will or Tim! <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">

Nullset · Post by **Nullset** » Thu Dec 13, 2001 8:09 am

I"ve heard of ToonBoom, Amorph, but don't know much about it. If it lightens the load on the animators, then I'd agree it would a tool to investigate, should animation be a direction T goes.Nullset out.

Khavren · Post by **Khavren** » Tue Dec 18, 2001 10:52 am

Woo Hoo! Since the topic hasn't been closed yet, I'm going to add more replies to it!In terms of going elsewhere or adding it to new mediums, Do as best you can, try to write up scripts for the different mediums and if you want more feedback post em for review. In abstract I have no opinion cause I haven't seen your work in any other medium yet.....In terms of getting some cash flow to help offset the Current income problems....Four webcomics who are doing well with cash are:
<A HREF="http://www.pvponline.com" TARGET=_blank>www.pvponline.com</A> who has individual sponsers for his site, he draws the banner and side ads for them and it seems to have made him enough money to allow him to branch out in print comics...
<A HREF="http://www.sluggy.com" TARGET=_blank>www.sluggy.com</A> Who sells plush dolls, t-shirts and garfield sized book collections of his strips, all of which are siezed upon by no more rabid fan-base....
<A HREF="http://www.goats.com" TARGET=_blank>www.goats.com</A> who has a graphic showing how much has been donated towards the cost of the T1 line he runs for his site and when ever it passes the monthly fee he pays, he does a special over-sized color sunday strip, as opposed to the normal M-W-F strip sequence. He usually manages to achieve that goal fairly regularly
<A HREF="http://www.angryflower.com" TARGET=_blank>www.angryflower.com</A> didn't have time to come up with t-shirt designs, so he offered to allow his fans to submit whatever thier favorite strips were to <A HREF="http://www.cafepress.com" TARGET=_blank>www.cafepress.com</A> who would print and sell the t-shirts. This one isn't as good a reference since you would prefer to keep all the revenue yourself, but using cafepress and perhaps a poll for the best shots of each char or top 5 strips is alot faster and easier than developing a series of new designs.All in all, long term, start experimenting with different media, see how you like it and how much trouble it is. Short term, redesign the site for better navigation and to position revenue sources more obviously.

Shatteredtower · Post by **Shatteredtower** » Tue Dec 18, 2001 11:24 am

I was going to hold this in, but you've restarted conversation here, and the Muse of Bad Humour will be denied no longer. In light of the topic of discussion, can I eventually hope to say: "I was there at the dawn of the third age of Fans..." Or should I run now while I have the head start? <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/biggrin.gif"> (Still looking for something useful to say - hoping levity will suffice in the meantime.)

Lucy the Destroyer · Post by **Lucy the Destroyer** » Tue Dec 18, 2001 12:28 pm

One possible pitfall with TV or movies is that Fans! caters to a relatively small demographic. Sure, Buffy and X-files are successful fantasy/SF shows, but they're already established, and require little knowledge of the genre. Much of the subtle humor of Fans! requires some familiarity with fandom, which is not especially common.

T Campbell · Post by **T Campbell** » Wed Dec 19, 2001 2:17 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Lucy the Destroyer:
One possible pitfall with TV or movies is that Fans! caters to a relatively small demographic. Sure, Buffy and X-files are successful fantasy/SF shows, but they're already established, and require little knowledge of the genre. Much of the subtle humor of Fans! requires some familiarity with fandom, which is not especially common.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>We've always tried to keep FANS at least fairly "newbie-friendly." Today's strip is full of collecting references, but I think it's fairly comprehensible to anyone who doesn't get them.Other media, with their longer word-counts, give us a little more time to explore, say, Heinlein's effect on sexual thinking without having charactes sound like they're quoting an SF encyclopedia...