Damn And Blast

Elliot Cowan · Apr 16, 2008

I have had the pleasure of working on half of a very good animated feature film project for several months now.
The basic story is great and the artwork and trailer we have completed is genuinely inspiring.
I say half a very good film, because while everything we've done so far is wonderful, the script is a complete piece of shit.
The damn and blast part of all this is that the guy who wrote the script (who although is a lovely fellow, can't write for shit) is the same person driving the project through the funding stages.
Consequently it's not so easy to get him to revise his awful, awful script.
Actually - that's not entirely true.
He has dutifully revised it each time we've suggested it needs some work and returned it with something even messier than before.
I've been working very closely with the art director and we're both in complete agreement on this project.
We both love it dearly but it's smeared all over in shit and we can't wipe it off.

Maryn · Apr 16, 2008

Oh, how awful. Your only up-side can be that when it's released, the critics (and with luck, your future employers) will see it and say the film is just awful, but the art is amazing, and can we get that Cowan fellow?

Maryn, sympathizing

Elliot Cowan · Apr 16, 2008

Cheers Maryn.
When you work in animation you kind of get used to it.
In this case it's particularly annoying because it would be very easy to fix all the script problems.

IceCreamEmpress · Apr 16, 2008

Have you tried making specific suggestions about the "fixes"?

Elliot Cowan · Apr 16, 2008

Weird.
I responded to this but it dissapeared.

In short, yes.
Our suggestions are specific and clear.
It just doesn't seem to sink in.
He's done all the Hollywood screenwriting courses so now he thinks he's an expert.
He's actually a very nice fellow, I just don't think he wants to let go of the screenwriter credit.
He'd actually have a great film if he passed it to us to rewrite and called himself a producer as getting the money is something he seems quite good at.

icerose · Apr 16, 2008

You might end up doing what the company hired me to do. It's my job to fix other people's scripts with this animation company. You might end up doing the same because sometimes outsiders can do more than those close to the project. I know I'm much better at editing other people's stuff than I am my own, so I understand why it's sometimes best to get an outsider.

Good luck, I hope you're able to fix it.

Elliot Cowan · Apr 16, 2008

Actually that's what I've been doing for the last 18 months on other projects.
Both the art director (who directed the trailer we've been working on) we hoping to slide me into that role here as well.
What projects are you working on if you don't mind me asking?
Animators aren't usually very happy working with written scripts.

Trish · Apr 16, 2008

Join him, and make your art work shit too. (So he knows what it feels like) or jump up and down and shout, "Damn and Blast!' until he listens. Maybe you could all go on strike.
Sorry, I know it's not a joke.

How frustrating.

Elliot Cowan · Apr 16, 2008

I'll try all of those options but I'm not certain it'll help...ha.

icerose · Apr 16, 2008

Elliot Cowan said:
Actually that's what I've been doing for the last 18 months on other projects.
Both the art director (who directed the trailer we've been working on) we hoping to slide me into that role here as well.
What projects are you working on if you don't mind me asking?
Animators aren't usually very happy working with written scripts.

I've signed a non-disclosure agreement, so I'm not sure what all I can divulge about the project.

It's an animated episodic that's aimed for 12-14 year olds. It's middle eastern based so it reminds me of 1000 arabian nights in its own way. I hope to be working on the feature soon, but they're pretty busy with other projects at the moment. It is making an appearance at the upcoming Cannes festival, so I'm excited about that.

NikeeGoddess · Apr 16, 2008

The damn and blast part of all this is that the guy who wrote the script (who although is a lovely fellow, can't write for shit) is the same person driving the project through the funding stages.

a few years ago i had a similar experience: crappy script, writer fueled the money. the crew had to stifle so many laughs and groans during the production. i felt bad for a couple of the lead actors too. thank the gods we got paid!

i hope you're getting paid. but not only that, the experience alone will help you tremendously when it comes to your own decision making on projects in the future. you can always gain from a failure through knowledge.

bluntforcetrauma · Apr 16, 2008

I did the soundtrack for an indie horror film. The music was well recieved, the movie was just awful. I don't mention it to anyone.

Elliot Cowan · Apr 16, 2008

NikeeGoddess said:
a few years ago i had a similar experience: crappy script, writer fueled the money. the crew had to stifle so many laughs and groans during the production. i felt bad for a couple of the lead actors too. thank the gods we got paid!

i hope you're getting paid. but not only that, the experience alone will help you tremendously when it comes to your own decision making on projects in the future. you can always gain from a failure through knowledge.

Fortunately I'm in a position that I always have some production work going on.
This is a nice project which is why it's so galling.
Oh, and yes, I was paid.

Elliot Cowan · Apr 16, 2008

bluntforcetrauma said:
I did the soundtrack for an indie horror film. The music was well recieved, the movie was just awful. I don't mention it to anyone.

We all have a few of those.
One of the most successful things I've ever worked on was also one of the most hideous.
I leave it off my CV despite its success (it was a music video clip).

bluntforcetrauma · Apr 16, 2008

Elliot Cowan said:
We all have a few of those.
One of the most successful things I've ever worked on was also one of the most hideous.
I leave it off my CV despite its success (it was a music video clip).

I don't feel alone now.

Elliot Cowan · Apr 16, 2008

Gawd no.
And the funny thing is if you saw it you'd probably think "Oh, it's not that bad".
But it really is...

If you really want to torture yourself you can find it here.

Damn And Blast

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me

Maryn

I Tried

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me

icerose

Lost in School Work

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me

Trish

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me

icerose

Lost in School Work

NikeeGoddess

bluntforcetrauma

Esquire

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me

bluntforcetrauma

Esquire

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me