Wonko reports from Bob Forward
Wonko the Sane
Bob Forward passed on some info regarding questions that may come
up about BW. Here goes:
[His feelings on "The Low Road"]
It was, I admit, a very silly episode and definitely a "one-off." On the
other hand, it was by far the most fun for everyone involved. Larry'd had
an opening in his slate and the producers felt that with the predominance
of "grimmer" episodes toward the end of the series it would be nice to do
a "funny" one. Specifically, they wanted one where Rattrap and Dinobot
got a chance to really go to town on each other.
It was too much fun to pass up, so I took the assignment, writing this
time FOR Larry rather than in conjunction with him. And I must say I
found him to be an excellent story editor, one of the best I've ever
worked with. ;)
The script was an absolute blast to write, involving much giggling at my
keyboard, and -- somewhat to my astonishment -- it sailed through with
barely a hitch. Larry handled whatever revisions were necessary and it
went right into production. Falconer directed it, which was another
stroke of luck --he is the "funniest" director at Mainframe. If you read
the script you'll see that he added a number of his own touches.
Part of the fun for everyone is that we live and work with these
characters, not only through the shows you see but through the many many
others that never get done. Many of the jokes in "LR" were things that
we'd always wanted to do but had never had the kind of episode where they
would fit.
To be honest, there were sound business reasons for the ep as well.
Another show, "Street Sharks," was recently banned in Europe for being too
violent, effectively killing a toy launch there. This is mainly because
Martha Moran, an excellent story editor, did her job too well in keeping
the show intense and serious. While the Transfans may not like the bits
where Dinobot gets flattened against a tree, for instance, it does help
give the show a "lighter" edge. And eps like "Low Road" help prevent
scenes like Rhinox and his Bad Ass Chainguns from getting the show killed
in censorship-prone countries, by presenting the action as "cartoony."
[Re: Those wacky Maximal elders]:
The "sealing of the records" by the Maximal Elders is one of those seeds
we toss in occasionally to be developed later if we see fit. To be
honest, it started just because that line made it easier to explain
Starscream to the audience without blatant exposition. If the characters
all knew who he was, we'd have had a hard time telling the audience.
But the concept tied in with other aspects of the Maximal Elders, who were
the ones who also caused the Maximal programming to repress the Beast Mode
instincts rather than utilize them. Personally, I see the Maximal Elders
in
about the same way I see most governments -- well-meaning but often
misguided. Historically there have been many attempts by many regiemes to
prevent "the people" from being "corrupted" by information "for their own
good." This has often come in the form of declaring someone to be a
"non-person," excised from historical records, and even their name
forbidden to be spoken aloud. I don't think this works, but then, all I
have to judge it by is its failures. If it succeeds, how would I know?
:)
In any case, we are simple setting up the Maximal Elders as potential
characters to be dealt with later if neccessary. If they were good and
omnipotent and infallible, we would have nowhere to go. But as powerful
but occasionally mistaken leaders we have characters that can make for
interesting stories.
********************************************** **************************
*Name: Benson "Ironfire" Yee * * Machine Wars Page: *
*a.k.a. Wonko the Sane * *http://acweb.com/ben/mw/ *
*e-mail: ye...@is2.nyu.edu * *****************************
****************************************** * Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Page:*
*Transformers Beast Wars web page: * *http://acweb.com/ben/hungga/ *
*http://acweb.com/ben/beast.htm * ********************************
***************************************
"...let us maximize-AND SLAG SOME BUTT!"
-Tigatron "Call of the Wild"
Lizard
In article <5dqog1$2bj$1...@news.nyu.edu>, ye...@is2.nyu.edu (Wonko the Sane) wrote:
> Bob Forward passed on some info regarding questions that may come
>up about BW. Here goes:
>To be honest, there were sound business reasons for the ep as well.
>Another show, "Street Sharks," was recently banned in Europe for being too
>violent, effectively killing a toy launch there. This is mainly because
>Martha Moran, an excellent story editor, did her job too well in keeping
>the show intense and serious. While the Transfans may not like the bits
>where Dinobot gets flattened against a tree, for instance, it does help
>give the show a "lighter" edge. And eps like "Low Road" help prevent
>scenes like Rhinox and his Bad Ass Chainguns from getting the show killed
>in censorship-prone countries, by presenting the action as "cartoony."
It's worth noting, I suppose, that Lizard's sense of Realpolitik is once again
proven sadly correct. Way back, I speculated that the reason for the cartoony
violence was to defray accusations of excessive use of force, by making the
violence 'silly' and thus reinforcing the 'no one really gets hurt' attitude.
I see I was correct.
Sigh. Sometimes, I really hate living in the later years of the 20th century.
When the history of this time is written, it will undoubtedly be marked down
as an era of global insanity, when the population was led by men and women who
could not distinguish fantasy from reality.
I will say I am looking forward to the 'grim' episodes. And it does help to
keep in mind that the target audience is young children, and what we older
Transfans can get out of it is a bonus. If the occasional episode slants too
close to the younger demographic, there is consolation in the episodes ,such
as 'Possession', which slant heavily towards us.
MSipher
Bob, through Ben, wrote...
>>
[His feelings on "The Low Road"]
It was, I admit, a very silly episode and definitely a "one-off." On the
other hand, it was by far the most fun for everyone involved. Larry'd had
an opening in his slate and the producers felt that with the predominance
of "grimmer" episodes toward the end of the series it would be nice to do
a "funny" one. Specifically, they wanted one where Rattrap and Dinobot
got a chance to really go to town on each other.
>>
It took me a second, more *awake* viewing to appreciate this ep. (The
first time, I was sick and blacking out on occaision.) But it's really
begun to grow on me. I've had days like Tarantulas went through... I'm too
much of a loon not to appreciate an intentionally oddball episode.
>>
It was too much fun to pass up, so I took the assignment, writing this
time FOR Larry rather than in conjunction with him. And I must say I
found him to be an excellent story editor, one of the best I've ever
worked with. ;)
>>
Comedy is good. Okay, the fart joke WAS pretty low-brow... but who here
HASN'T laughed at that one scene from "Blazing Saddles"? Or last week's
"Drew Carrey Show"? I know *I* was having trouble breathing afterwards.
There is SOOOO much humor potential in BW (cripes, TFs on the whole), and
it's actually kinda refreshing to see this OFFICIALLY exploited for a
change.
>>
The script was an absolute blast to write, involving much giggling at my
keyboard, and -- somewhat to my astonishment -- it sailed through with
barely a hitch. Larry handled whatever revisions were necessary and it
went right into production. Falconer directed it, which was another
stroke of luck --he is the "funniest" director at Mainframe. If you read
the script you'll see that he added a number of his own touches.
>>
These are the same folks who do "ReBoot", mind you... when I saw the
Penguin from "The Wrong Trousers" in one ep, I KNEW that we were dealing
with some jokers.
>>
Part of the fun for everyone is that we live and work with these
characters, not only through the shows you see but through the many many
others that never get done. Many of the jokes in "LR" were things that
we'd always wanted to do but had never had the kind of episode where they
would fit.
>>
And for once, the animator's tendancies for goofiness worked.
>>
To be honest, there were sound business reasons for the ep as well.
Another show, "Street Sharks," was recently banned in Europe for being too
violent, effectively killing a toy launch there. This is mainly because
Martha Moran, an excellent story editor, did her job too well in keeping
the show intense and serious. While the Transfans may not like the bits
where Dinobot gets flattened against a tree, for instance, it does help
give the show a "lighter" edge. And eps like "Low Road" help prevent
scenes like Rhinox and his Bad Ass Chainguns from getting the show killed
in censorship-prone countries, by presenting the action as "cartoony."
>>
Ehhhhhh... (not to you, Bob.) Not what one would truly call a "win-win"
sityashun, is it? If the cartoony bits were perhaps better placed...
Just love the simpleminded mentalities of some folks, huh?
>>
[Re: Those wacky Maximal elders]:
The "sealing of the records" by the Maximal Elders is one of those seeds
we toss in occasionally to be developed later if we see fit. To be
honest, it started just because that line made it easier to explain
Starscream to the audience without blatant exposition. If the characters
all knew who he was, we'd have had a hard time telling the audience.
>>
Remember, exposition does not come to conversation naturally. It's a hard
critter to camoflage.
>>
But the concept tied in with other aspects of the Maximal Elders, who were
the ones who also caused the Maximal programming to repress the Beast Mode
instincts rather than utilize them. Personally, I see the Maximal Elders
in about the same way I see most governments -- well-meaning but often
misguided.
>>
Ahhh... this is refreshing. I *hate* perfect good guys... (slightly less
than I hate Wolverine-style good guys, mind you.)
>>
In any case, we are simple setting up the Maximal Elders as potential
characters to be dealt with later if neccessary. If they were good and
omnipotent and infallible, we would have nowhere to go. But as powerful
but occasionally mistaken leaders we have characters that can make for
interesting stories.
>>
Oh, you tease.
M "For Anybody With A Heart Condition, I Must Warn You In The Next Scene I
Climb A Ladder" Sipher
The Nixtr
QUOTING: It's worth noting, I suppose, that Lizard's sense of Realpolitik
is once again proven sadly correct. Way back, I speculated that the reason
for the cartoony violence was to defray accusations of excessive use of
force, by making the violence 'silly' and thus reinforcing the 'no one
really gets hurt' attitude.
I see I was correct.
RESPONSE: It's ironic, that in Europe, cartoons are censored for realistic
violence, and BW's violence is made cartoonish (sometimes) to prevent bans
there.
Yet, in America, cartoons like Looney Toons, Popeye, Tom & Jerry
were censored by Ted Turner for their cartoonish violence!!!
Tape the BW while it's still in syndication & uncensored!
--
The Nixtr *** Transformer Fan ***
Susan Smith is Pro-Choice!
world's WEIRDEST SITE: http://www.acy.digex.net/~thenixtr
Don't Deal w/ Karbunkle! (~tle...@dwx.com)
Robert A. Jung
In article <5ds9u2$v...@acy1.digex.net> then...@acy1.digex.net (The Nixtr) writes:
>RESPONSE: It's ironic, that in Europe, cartoons are censored for realistic
>violence, and BW's violence is made cartoonish (sometimes) to prevent bans
>there.
> Yet, in America, cartoons like Looney Toons, Popeye, Tom & Jerry
>were censored by Ted Turner for their cartoonish violence!!!
Ted Turner or overprotective, we-know-what's-good-for-your-kids parents'
groups, Nixtr? The latter have ALWAYS been a danger to kids' teevee, even
before the first TF series rolled around.
Or are you picking on Turner merely because you dislike his politics? B-)
--R.J.
B-)
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Patrick Thompson
Wonko the Sane wrote:
>
> Bob Forward passed on some info regarding questions that may come
> up about BW. Here goes:
>
> [Re: Those wacky Maximal elders]:
>
> The "sealing of the records" by the Maximal Elders is one of those seeds
> we toss in occasionally to be developed later if we see fit. To be
> honest, it started just because that line made it easier to explain
> Starscream to the audience without blatant exposition. If the characters
> all knew who he was, we'd have had a hard time telling the audience.
>
> the ones who also caused the Maximal programming to repress the Beast Mode
> instincts rather than utilize them. Personally, I see the Maximal Elders
> in
> about the same way I see most governments -- well-meaning but often
> prevent "the people" from being "corrupted" by information "for their own
> good." This has often come in the form of declaring someone to be a
> "non-person," excised from historical records, and even their name
> forbidden to be spoken aloud. I don't think this works, but then, all I
> have to judge it by is its failures. If it succeeds, how would I know?
> :)
>
> characters to be dealt with later if neccessary. If they were good and
> omnipotent and infallible, we would have nowhere to go. But as powerful
> but occasionally mistaken leaders we have characters that can make for
> interesting stories.
Wouldn't it be goofy if the "Maximal Elders" included some G1 Autobots?
We know they can live that long, so perhaps they could have gone up the
ranks and could reappear-I'd love to see G1 optimus or even Rodimus
getting a messaage, a la "Probe" to the Autobots, allowing a
cameo...perhaps something like that is what is planned for the season
finale cameo, since we've already had teh evil cameo and are due for a
heroic cameo.
Robert Edward Powers
: Wonko the Sane wrote:
: > Bob Forward passed on some info regarding questions that may come
: > up about BW. Here goes:
: > But the concept tied in with other aspects of the Maximal Elders, who were
: > the ones who also caused the Maximal programming to repress the Beast Mode
: > instincts rather than utilize them. Personally, I see the Maximal Elders
: > in
: > about the same way I see most governments -- well-meaning but often
: > misguided. Historically there have been many attempts by many regiemes to
: > prevent "the people" from being "corrupted" by information "for their own
: > good."
Funny... I wondered if I was the only one thinking that there was
something a bit sinister-sounding about the Elders sealing those records
and declaring them forbidden. Nice to know my feeling wasn't too far
off-base. The Maximals seem to be a pretty free-thinking bunch for the
most part, though; they don't seem like the type to live under an
oppressive regime. Maybe the Elders are just overly paranoid?
--
Robert Powers of the Change-Through-DEATH .sig
repowers@artsci.wustl.edu____http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~repowers_
| I've never felt this healthy before... -- Alanis Morrisette |
| Dammit! Dammit dammit dammit!!! -- me |
|__________________________________________________________________|
Lizard
In article <5e3bmj$k...@newsreader.wustl.edu>, repo...@artsci.wustl.edu (Robert Edward Powers) wrote:
> Funny... I wondered if I was the only one thinking that there was
>something a bit sinister-sounding about the Elders sealing those records
>and declaring them forbidden. Nice to know my feeling wasn't too far
>off-base. The Maximals seem to be a pretty free-thinking bunch for the
>most part, though; they don't seem like the type to live under an
>oppressive regime. Maybe the Elders are just overly paranoid?
OTOH, this particular batch were heading off on an exploration mission.
Traditionally, it is the most free-thinking and independant in any society who
head out to explore strange new worlds, etc. And one of the main impetuses
(impetii?) for colonization/exploration is that life back home has gotten a
little bit too confining.
BeastBob1
>> Funny... I wondered if I was the only one thinking that there was
something a bit sinister-sounding about the Elders sealing those records
and declaring them forbidden. Nice to know my feeling wasn't too far
off-base. The Maximals seem to be a pretty free-thinking bunch for the
most part, though; they don't seem like the type to live under an
oppressive regime. Maybe the Elders are just overly paranoid? <<
Call them overly cautious. Dealing with organic alternate forms could
have unexpected problems. Instincts, urges; all stuff they never had to
deal with in cars and planes.
Bob