From: fong_jh@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Julian H Fong)
Subject: Re: The Net.Script!  Accept No Substitutes!
Organization: HAC - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 06:28:39 GMT

In article <l7c7e1INNkft@aludra.usc.edu> rjung@aludra.usc.edu (Robert A. Jung) writes:
>In article <1992Jul29.031401.18523@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> I write:
>>In article <9207272037.AA23044@acs1.acs.ucalgary.ca> gsbrande@ACS.UCALGARY.CA (Geoffrey Sean Brandenburg) writes:
>>>  BABSIE ON BOARD
>>>  Written by (in alphabetical order):
>>>                Sean Brandenburg
>>>                Christina M. Callihan
>>>                Julie Hazeltine
>>>                Robert Jung        
>>>                Kevin J. Podsiadlik
>>>*******
>>>
>>>Copyright 1992 by The Association of Amateur Alt.Tv.Tiny-Toon Net.Writers.
>>>No part of this document may be copied, transcribed, produced or
>>>animated, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the writers
>>>mentioned above.
>>
>>[snip]
>>
>>>                                        BABS
>>>                            Except I think the photographer had
>>>                            a brain aneurysm.
>>
>>	I think it was agreed by a number of people, before the last
>>draft of the script came out, that this line should be changed to 
>>"Except I've seen better photos on the side of a milk carton."
>
>  I'm not sure if it was total agreement -- instead, I think some folks were
>wondering about the comic potential of "brain aneurysm". Me, I _still_ don't
>know what a "brain aneurysm" is, but I think it should stay. It's nicely
>worded, and Babs' tone of voice makes it clear that a "brain aneurysm" is not
>something you'd want to have...

	(I have responded to this by e-mail.)

	The milk carton line seems to me to be catchier, more
straightforward, and more representative of the kind of humor 
for which  we love TTA.  But that's just me.  Besides, if it's 
a bad photo, make fun of the photo -- it could be the fault of
any number of things, not just the photographer.

>>	You know, it occurs to me that we still haven't resolved the
>>problem that NONE OF THE TTA CHARACTERS (except Arnold) IS TALL ENOUGH
>>TO DRIVE A CAR -- especially with Babs' mom to provide a scale 
>>reference.
>
>  What problem? This is a cartoon! I mean, scale doesn't have to be too
>consistent from camera angle to camera angle. If the camera's on the hood,
>make sure Babs' face is visible, and put Mom stage left and slightly
>off-screen. If the camera is to Babs' side, adjust the car's proportions as
>needed. And so on. Heck, make the car Babs/Buster/Plucky/Hamton sized, and
>shrink Mom if needed...

	You have a point.  Still, if we, the newsgroup, weren't
writing this script, but we saw this story on TV, wouldn't at least
one of us comment on this?  I suppose it would depend on the quality
of the animation.  The weight of precedence has to be considered,
though.  Look at how Hamton and Plucky's feet are shorter than the
back seat of the car in HISMV.  Look (if your stomach can take this
kind of punishment) at "One Beer."

	I'd like to offer up the following extra 10 seconds of script:

				BABS' MOM
			Now, the first thing you should do
			is adjust your seat and mirrors.

				   BABS
			Sure thing, Mom.

Close-up on BABS' HAND as she reaches for a knob on the dashboard
labeled "PROPORTION ADJUST".  Cut to front view of car.  With a whine
of motors, Babs is stretched to the height of her mom.  With an even
louder whine, Babs shrinks to her normal height and the entire left
side of the car collapses (in a highly Escheresque manner) to fit her.
We can see Babs' arm move as she turns the knob another way.  The
camera goes to Babs' right side as the driver's seat jacks up slightly
and the floor rises to bring the pedals within reach of her feet.

	Alternately, Babs could summon The Animator's Paintbrush (tm)
to achieve the same final results.

>>	I thought the major reason for making Arnold the traffic cop
>>was to include a Terminator 2 reference.  What would be a good one --
>>"Say, that's a nice bike"?  "Hasta la vista, Babsie"?
>
>  I thought Arnold should be the cop simply because it's so appropros for the
>dumb lug (Arnold, not Babs  B-). He'd sure beat a generic 'toon cop anyway.
>A T2 reference would be nice, but it'd be tricky to put in. Maybe an "Hasta
>la vista, baby" when Babs drives off...?

	Of course, the reference can't be exact because it wasn't
Schwarzenegger who was dressed as a policeman.  I also want it
noted that Arnold's uniform should bear an "AAPD" shoulder patch.

>>	Someone suggested, at one point, to have them pass Steven
>>Spielberg piloting the Millenium Falcon.  This idea was discarded
>>because Spielberg obviously has no connection to Star Wars.  So
>>how's this for an alternative:  Spielberg overtakes them in the
>>DeLorean time machine!
>
>  I like that. I vote for making it a quick joke, though -- you blink, you'll
>miss it (re: Snoopy in HER WACKY HIGHNESS). If you force the script to make
>Stevie stand out, it'll lose its comic impact. Suggestion: Speilberg flies by
>in a flying Delorian while Babs et al are panicking in the car (on the
>freeway). Maybe have Speilberg OUTSIDE the Delorian, hanging on to the
>steering wheel for dear life.

	No objection here to making it a quick gag -- I too wouldn't
want it any other way.

>>>The guys watch nervously as a large FREEWAY ENTRANCE sign looms before them,
>>>with a RIGHT LANE MUST ENTER sign underneath.
>>
>>	I can't recall ever seeing a RIGHT LANE MUST ENTER sign on a
>>road.  RIGHT LANE MUST EXIT signs I've seen plenty of, though.
>
>  Just draw an overhead sign like:
>
>        +----------------------------------+-------------+
>        |                                  |  SPEEDWAY   |
>        |      /\     SAFE AND SANE        |  OF DEATH   |
>        |   |\/ /     STREETS              |    +--+     |
>        |   |  /                           |   _|  |_    |
>        |   |__\                           |   \    /    |
>        |                                  |    \  /     |
>        |__________________________________|_____\/______|
>
>  You get the idea.

	Sure do.  Let's make a description of the sign an official
part of the script.

>>> Some marvelous transformation takes place and Babs is weaving in and out
>>>of traffic like an Indy car driver.  
>>
>>	Maybe not.  IMO, this would work best if she were on the edge
>>of panic throughout.
>
>  Right. So she drives skillfully while in the throngs of panic. Can't wreck
>that car, or Mom will get suspicious...  B-)

	Wasn't there an earlier incarnation of the script where
Babs' Mom says "I'll be back in TEN MINUTES"?  Should this time
limit also be included as a plot element?  (Granted, there aren't
many people who know exactly how long their grocery shopping will
take.)  In any case, the beauty of the freeway scene is that we
can create an exciting, suspenseful scene without resorting to the
"chase" formula so frequently used in TTA.

	And while we're at it, how come there've only been two active
threads on this group for the past week with only three people 
involved with this one?


-- 
           ____  "Okay, the situation is totally under control as of
     |____|____   this moment in time." -- Zaphod Beeblebrox
 ____|    |
                  Julian Fong: fong_jh@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.tv.tiny-toon