tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post116201712986397482..comments2024-03-29T02:18:35.303-07:00Comments on TAG Blog: Too-Long Scripts = Too-long Boards = Frustrated ArtistsSteve Huletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162434442246425742006-11-01T18:27:00.000-08:002006-11-01T18:27:00.000-08:00"Why doesn't the storyboard artist just go to the ..."Why doesn't the storyboard artist just go to the director to tell the story editor that the scripts are over-written?"<BR/><BR/>I'd guess you've never worked in TV animation. ; D<BR/><BR/>For the same reason the storyboard artists doesn't ask the director to fire the story editor, or give him(the artist) a big fat raise, or get the board artists a decent work space(an office). Because the storyboard artist at any studio I've ever worked at in TV has, ohhhh, about ZERO power and influence over:<BR/>producers<BR/>writers<BR/>directors <BR/>editors<BR/>and<BR/>production managers.<BR/><BR/>That's where the union comes in handy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162361366726497592006-10-31T22:09:00.000-08:002006-10-31T22:09:00.000-08:00There are also times when scripts are too short or...There are also times when scripts are too short or a scene is underwritten (for any number of reasons), and the board artists is told by his supervisor to add material.<BR/><BR/>There is no absolute ideal solution here. End of the day, it's the story editor and/or director and/or board supervisor that has the responsibility to make the wheels turn smoothly. More often than not, writers and board artists are following directions.Steve Huletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162324430453947662006-10-31T11:53:00.000-08:002006-10-31T11:53:00.000-08:00Why doesn't the storyboard artist just go to the d...Why doesn't the storyboard artist just go to the director to tell the story editor that the scripts are over-written?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162309818174785582006-10-31T07:50:00.000-08:002006-10-31T07:50:00.000-08:00"On the other hand, it's not always the writer's f..."On the other hand, it's not always the writer's fault."<BR/><BR/>It is when the scripts are over-written. That's the whole point of Steve's post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162229836109120532006-10-30T09:37:00.000-08:002006-10-30T09:37:00.000-08:00That’s interesting. I would love to know what stud...That’s interesting. I would love to know what studio he’s working at presently, because from my stand point as a writer we<BR/>Never turn in things over the page count. We’d get our buts kicked by the story editor and producer. My scripts must ALWAYS land at or around a certain page count. If the story editor tells me it’s gotta be 35 pages, I turn in 35 pages or 34 or 37 if it’s unavoidable. And still, he cuts it down more on his take before it goes to network approval then finally to the artists and director. So still this guy is encountering scripts that are eight pages over or whatever, then someone in the middle is not doing their job, either the writer or the story editor. I think that evidence will show that over the last decade scripts have actually been getting SHORTER on average. A script for the SMURFS used to run as long as 50 pages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162228190230134782006-10-30T09:09:00.000-08:002006-10-30T09:09:00.000-08:00On the other hand, it's not always the writer's fa...On the other hand, it's not always the writer's fault. I've worked on productions where the writers were as overworked and rushed as the board artists. The producers are really the ones who should show some responsibility in this, as they don't seem to have a clue what a drain it is to over-write and over-board a show only to cut it down in the animatic process(where the animatics are mini-epics in and of themselves). <BR/><BR/>It's funny how the writers and artists are supposed to know how to do their jobs well under any crappy circumstances...when will the higher-ups be held to the same standards?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162179786594146352006-10-29T19:43:00.000-08:002006-10-29T19:43:00.000-08:00If you're talking about a prime-time animated sitc...If you're talking about a prime-time animated sitcom, don't hold your breath waiting for writers to trim their scripts. They've got all the power. You don't see artists on these shows taking on producer titles except in very rare cases. Being expendable labor, board artists are expected to work under sweatshop conditions. It's their job, after all.<BR/><BR/>As far as the cable/Saturday morning product is concerned, writers often ape the style of shows like <I>The Simpsons</I> in order to appear hip and cool (and possibly break into the lucrative prime-time market), and therefore pad their scripts as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162171989501933622006-10-29T17:33:00.000-08:002006-10-29T17:33:00.000-08:00For the life of me, I've never understood why prod...For the life of me, I've never understood why producers don't cut scripts to length before board artists draw them up.<BR/><BR/>I mean, it's a simple enough process. And any writer worth his salt should be able to deliver a script at the proper length. Maybe somebody needs to exercise a little more self-discipline.Steve Huletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162135321346054442006-10-29T07:22:00.000-08:002006-10-29T07:22:00.000-08:00Bravo, Steve, for raising this topic. There's mor...Bravo, Steve, for raising this topic. There's more to the equation:<BR/><BR/> Too-Long Scripts = Too-long Boards = Frustrated Artists + Increased Production Costs = Unnecessarily Expensive American Cartoons = More incentive for vertically-integrated networks to import cheaper anime. Why is anime cheaper than American cartoons? The Japanese don't allow over-writing in their productions. The staff and crew know the animation process and keep that process -- and limited budgets -- in mind for their storytelling.<BR/><BR/>The formula 2 pages script = 1 minute of screentime is nonsense. Who came up with this? Adherence to this formula has made animation production more expensive than it has to be, and has certainly demoralized animation professionals in wasted time and effort.<BR/><BR/>If studios want to save money and enable artists -- and writers, for that matter -- to meet tightened deadlines, chop the scripts down to a page (or page-and-a-half, depending on the nature of the show and detail in the script) per minute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162077017145600542006-10-28T16:10:00.000-07:002006-10-28T16:10:00.000-07:00That's a sad story but not a surprising one.When I...That's a sad story but not a surprising one.<BR/><BR/>When I came into the business many years ago, cartoons were made by people who knew what they were doing. I'll say it again. People who KNEW what they were doing. <BR/><BR/>I don't expect anything to change. Why should it? The knuckleheads in charge don't have to do the work. As far as they're concerned, everything is fine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1162068548328166772006-10-28T13:49:00.000-07:002006-10-28T13:49:00.000-07:00That's a long-overdue meeting, I'd say. Hopefully ...That's a long-overdue meeting, I'd say. Hopefully it'll be the start of a trend towards some actual <I>thought</I> going into the thought processes of these shows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com