Corona | Coming Attractions

Looks like I'm responsible for an embarrassingly high number of those comments.

Here's a question (neither about the site nor about you, so I offer preemptive apologies):

Do you know anything about seeking solicitation for cartoon pitches? I know what's supposed to go into a pitch, and my friends and I have all of those materials together, but we are lacking that all-important ingredient: legal representation. We need it, and we want to make sure we get it from the right person/entity. Preferably, this person/entity would not only be "right," but would be affordable.

* * *

I bet no one knows what I do for a living (and it isn't this site -- and why writing CA full-time isn't my full-time job is an interesting question in and of itself.)

Clearly, I am being compelled to ask what you do for a living. What do you do for a living?

Okay, I'll bite and ask the question you're wanting to answer:
What do you do for a living, and why isn't writing CA full-time your full-time job?

Also, why won't Kah hook up with me?

Weird, Goiter. I posted 1:20 ago, and you posted 52 sec ago and your post is above mine.

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Here's a question. Why can't I post a pic from photobucket here? I wanted to start a CA photo album, but when I hit edit, the paste option doesn't highlight.
What am I doing wrong?

just few questions Patrick, first and foremost you said a while back that our comments (when we were adding them) would finally have real HTML controls... i mean typing HTML all out longhand works... but c'mon. :O)

secondly, I had really wanted to link that A Dolphins Tale article to my facebook account and noticed there was no easy way of doing this. i had to copy/paste the entire article under the picture of the dolphin that i had manually uploaded to facebook... cant we get social site link-to buttons like they have on YouTube?

its still relatively difficult to link pictures and video into a comment... can we fix that? (I think that goes with the "please get HTML tools above the ADD Comments box"

Bill_the_Only wrote:

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

ten trillion MPH billy-boy

Goiter's up first:

"Do you know anything about seeking solicitation for cartoon pitches?"

You mean pitching a cartoon series? Unfortunately, not a lot. I pitched a live-action TV series 8 years ago and I found out quickly that it is nothing like writing a movie script and hoping it sells. You need to be established to even try and get a live-action TV project off the ground.

I do believe that it is easier if you have an animated TV series to pitch. Seth MacFarlane is living proof that you can be a nobody and successfully sell your toon to network TV.

"I know what's supposed to go into a pitch, and my friends and I have all of those materials together, but we are lacking that all-important ingredient: legal representation. We need it, and we want to make sure we get it from the right person/entity. Preferably, this person/entity would not only be "right," but would be affordable."

There are lawyers that specialize in entertainment law and that you can pay on a as-you-go schedule. There are also lawyers out there that will represent you pro bono because they attach themselves to your project. I knew a fellow that did that for a cool alternative history toon that was floating around Hollywood about 10 years ago. My advice would be start looking for lawyers living in L.A. that specialize in entertainment. You want someone that represents comic book artists or writers as well as animation people; they have the experience and can tell you what the lay of the land is. Even if it's a 10 minute call to gather info as you prepare to submit, any professional advice is good.

"What do you do for a living?"

For the past four months I've been working full-time as a senior copywriter for a marketing company. Most of the people that work there just found out about my other life online this week.

As far as I know I'm the only guy running a higher profile movie website that has a real-world job.

Jakester:

"What do you do for a living, and why isn't writing CA full-time your full-time job?"

You know what I do for a living now. There are a few reasons for the second part of your question:

1. The site is nowhere near being big enough to support a living wage. I knew that building up CA's reputation again would be a long-term job, but I underestimated how hard it would be to get decent money from online advertising, as well as how tough it is getting representation for the site. I've had to constantly be learning about the state of online advertising in 2009 as I wrote for the site this year. Also, no other movie webmasters want to share any info. I'm pretty much on my own to figure everything out.

2. If CA were making money it would go back into adding new features and content to the site. I've got a long list of stuff that I want programmers to build out on CA. I also would like to have someone writing for CA that lives in L.A. so that the site can have a presence at junkets, set visits, etc.

I'm not the kind of guy that begs for money for his website, nor am I the kind of guy that hit whores to get traffic for more hits. It's a longer road and a harder one that I'm taking, but I sleep better at night for it.

3. I will never, ever be dependent on a website for my livelihood ever again. The 2001-2004 dot-bomb recovery really fucked things up for online ads and websites. That's why I took a steady paycheck and I don't regret it. I work 12-16 hour days sometimes but at the end of the day I don't need to cut a shitty deal with an ad agency because I need money fast. I've heard enough gossip and rumors about the deals that agencies and websites have agreed to and I'm not interested in getting bent over a barrel. Fair deals exist, it's up to you to find them or make them happen.

4. It would be fun to write CA full-time somedays but there are a lot of other things that I want to accomplish. I have a good day-job that has a lot of potential for upward growth, plus I am constantly learning more about web stuff every day. I also want to have a finished screenplay done in 2010; I've put off writing for far too long and I want to do something that I believe has significant commercial appeal as well as is a cool as hell idea for a movie. Even if I were to strike it rich in any one of those three areas I would not quit doing the other two. I like what I do every day; making money from it is important too, but loving my jobs is the first reason for me doing any of them.

5. CA needs to be able to make revenue so it can pay a staff. This is a core value that I set out to do when I relaunched the site and it hasn't changed. In the past year I've been shocked to learn that there are major movie websites that still continue to not pay their staff. Instead, the site owners (and the employees) think it's perfectly OK to get "paid" in recognition or DVDs or set visits. This is a major reason why movie website owners make shit from ad agencies. Most site owners seem to be single, in their 20s and more interested in thinking that they're cool because they get to be flown to a set or 50 DVDs arrived on their doorstep that week, instead of thinking about the really important things like making money so you can get married one day, provide for your family, buy a home or car and not have to worry about bills. That's not to say that all webmasters are like this because there are some that have optimized their websites to make a good chunk of money.

Getting back to my point, I will always write for CA in some capacity but if this site is to grow into what I think it has the potential to be, at some point other voices will need to be heard on here. That might be something that some of you want to keep in mind when the time comes around, and it will in the new year.

"Also, why won't Kah hook up with me?"

To answer this I need to start a new thread and allocate 14 hours to writing a full answer. My friend, sometimes it's better that the question is never answered.

Bill the Only

"What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?"

Are we talking about a swallow here on Earth or off-world? There's a difference.

Dirty Harry Potter

"Why can't I post a pic from photobucket here? I wanted to start a CA photo album, but when I hit edit, the paste option doesn't highlight. What am I doing wrong?"

I don't know what the problem is but the solution is likely to be included in the next upgrade to the site. I've asked for a cost estimate on sprucing up the user interfaces in the forums and to add more information to threads so that they appear more like UBB forums. A rich HTML editor option is in the design which should make life a lot easier for outside linking to images. Look for this to roll out in Jan/Feb.

McKracken:

"first and foremost you said a while back that our comments (when we were adding them) would finally have real HTML controls... i mean typing HTML all out longhand works... but c'mon. :O)"

See the answer to Dirty Harry Potter above your post. I've asked for the rich HTML toolbar and that will happen. I've been late on getting it on rolled out because of not having the free time to work more on the supervising of it and the cost of it, making sure that I will have enough bankrolled for the work. It will happen now. That will also take care of the video and pictures question that you had too.

"I had really wanted to link that A Dolphins Tale article to my facebook account and noticed there was no easy way of doing this. i had to copy/paste the entire article under the picture of the dolphin that i had manually uploaded to facebook... cant we get social site link-to buttons like they have on YouTube?"

That's a good idea. Right now I add links to stories on Facebook from CA using a button on my toolbar and it seems to grab the image and the first couple of sentences to the article. We need to make it easier for social sharing of content. I'll ask the developers if they have any ideas as to how much it would cost to get this kind of flexibility.

I post PhotoBucket images on here with some frequency. I'm not sure why it isn't working for Dirty Harry Potter.

If the paste option doesn't work from the Edit tab, you might want to try Ctrl + V.

Also, if you are copying the image's code tag from PhotoBucket (the one that turns any image into a link back to PhotoBucket), that could be messing with things. Some sites with limited HTML support will support an image, but will not support a link from the image. I haven't tried to copy and paste PhotoBucket's pre-fab code (the option that reads "HTML Code" in the drop-down menu when you hover over the image with your mouse). I usually just take the raw code (the "Direct Link" option) and give it the longhand HTML treatment.

For example, let's say I want to post the following GIF:

I would copy the image's "Direct Link," then I would give it the "img src" tag, like so:

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/smurfthumper/blowout1.gif">

To be honest, this is the easiest way for me. At this point in my on-line life, writing out tags has become so natural that I'd almost rather do it than highlight a text and code it with a click of a toolbar tab. I understand I do not speak for everyone, however.

The downside to using sites like PhotoBucket and ImageShack for image hosting is that some people's places of employment block images from those sites, so for some, even though I have successfully tagged those images, they cannot see them until they are on their personal computers.

Patrick:

How cool is it to be a Canadian? That's more of a statement than a question.

Also, do you see any revival of the X-Files franchise? And what did you think of the last film?

Those are real questions. :)

What do you think of the 3D thing - fad or the next big thing for movies?

Space Tycoon wrote:

Patrick:How cool is it to be a Canadian? That's more of a statement than a question.

It's always cool to be a canuck. Nobody flies a jet into your buildings.

It pays to be nice, have your own oil, and not bomb brown people when you're pissed at them.

We stand on guard for thee!

Space Tycoon:

"How cool is it to be a Canadian? That's more of a statement than a question."

Back when I was just a 5-year-old kid I didn't want to be a Canadian because I wanted to be an astronaut. I loved everything to do with space as a kid. Around that age I realized that when I was a grown-up I wouldn't be able to be an astronaut because only Americans and Soviets had space programs, and even as a kid I realized that Canada wasn't going to be able to afford to make rockets. So instead of deciding to become an astronaut I decided to be the next best thing, a guy that comes up with stories about space.

I wonder what would have happened if I knew that Canada would have a space division in a few years and partner with the US on sending Canadians up into space on the shuttle.

Today I like being a Canadian but it doesn't mean we're the best. Canada has a lot of shady politics, backroom deals and ways that it could be a better nation. One thing I admire about the US is that the citizens are taught to have a lot of pride in being an American. Canadians like being Canadians but we're also the first to say "Excuse me" in a debate and back down.

"Also, do you see any revival of the X-Files franchise? And what did you think of the last film?"

I went to the set of X-FILES 2 and my first thought was wow, Fox was being really cheap. They had maybe 30 crewmembers working on the soundstage I visited (Mulder's house). I didn't see the last film so I don't have a personal opinion. I've read the reviews and know it wasn't well-received.

On the franchise, I think it's over as a Scully/Mulder thing. Fox will likely let it lay fallow for a decade and then reboot it with a younger pair of FBI agents. Or is that FRINGE?

angrypaperclip:
"What do you think of the 3D thing - fad or the next big thing for movies?"

I think it's going to wind up being a fad. I think that it's mainly being driven by the studios as a deterrent against piracy and to motivate people to have the theater experience. I just don't feel that there's a lot of enthusiasm amongst the gen pop for 3D. It's neat but in the end a bad 3D movie is still a bad movie.

My wife said that the 3D for the G-Force trailer ahead of Up was amazing. I can't see the 3D stuff, so I don't know.

Pat, I thought, being the awesome guy that you are, that you'd have a word with Kah on my behalf. She might actually almost listen to you.

Now for my question: Are you really trying to fill in for the Box of Mr. T Cereal?

Patrick Sauriol wrote:

One thing I admire about the US is that the citizens are taught to have a lot of pride in being an American.

Canadians like being Canadians but we're also the first to say "Excuse me" in a debate and back down.

ANot this Canadian. As much as I love America, and married a girl from NYC, that'll the day this Canuck backs down from anyone.
We might be a small force, be we don't take any shit from anyone.

"We might be a small force, be we don't take any shit from anyone."

We don't take shit from anyone? How did Canada stand up to the US during the softwood trade dispute? When our Afghanistan troops got killed from the friendly fire of an American fighter jet? When Russia planted their flag on our soil at the bottom of the ocean under the North Pole? Did Canada put political pressure on the UN when General Romeo Dalliare took a stand against genocide in Rwanda?

Canada doesn't have the economic or political pressure to muscle on a foreign nation or large body like the UN or WHO. Our elected leaders know that. However, we also don't often take a hard stand. The only major political stance that Canada took, that I can recall, in the past decade was not siding with the US in going to war against Iraq. Canada has had a history of playing a peacekeeper role so it made sense to be a part of the coalition to go to war against the Taliban but not against Hussein.

I know that the US can let its patriotism go to its head and that political pundits can shape some of the masses to believe in rhetoric and not facts. But still, the US has a proud history of its common people standing up and uniting in social unrest, which leads to change. Women's sufferage, the sexual revolution, black equality, gay rights are some example. That's not to say that US history is filled with only positives. All I'm saying is that it would be nice to have a little more US backbone sometimes so Canadians can put more fear into their elected leaders.

We didn't go into Iraq, which was a stupid mistake on the part of the US, and would have been an even stupider mistake on Canada's part. Agreed? The friendly fire shit? You think Chimpo gave a shit?
We haven't had a real leader with balls since Trudeau. Guy took shit from no one. Nixon included.
Gay rights? Why are they all coming to Canada to get married?

Regarding Canadian Politics...a question for you:

Is there still an alliance in place between the liberals (I think that's what they're called?) and the Bloc Quebecois, and maybe a third party as well to overthrow Steven Harper and take power from the conservatives, or are you guys just going to have yet another election coming soon?

Also, do you still live in Vancouver, or did I make that up? Either way, how crazy are things getting for the olympics?

And can I offer up my services to write about TV stuff when the expansion time comes? I already know I'm not cool, am used to not getting paid for any sort of work I do (just try working for a casino sometime kiddies) and really just love to write about television. Plus it'd make Jakester jealous of me for yet another reason.

Dirty Harry Potter:

I agree with you, going into Iraq would have been cosmically dumb. Of course Dubya didn't give a crap about the friendly fire incident. Dubya didn't care about anything while he was in office except what he was told to care about. I just wish sometimes that Canada wouldn't give the US., or Russia, or whomever it is at the time, a free pass when we get a particularly hard slap in the face.

Canada is awesome in a lot of ways but there's still a lot of room for improvement. We should be a world leader with green energy and vision. We should be more upset about the high amount we pay in taxes. We should have NHL teams in Winnipeg, Quebec and one in Regina!

Adam54:

"Is there still an alliance in place between the liberals (I think that's what they're called?) and the Bloc Quebecois, and maybe a third party as well to overthrow Steven Harper and take power from the conservatives, or are you guys just going to have yet another election coming soon?"

The alliance is there but nobody is rocking the boat. If an election was called the mood (from what I gather from the water cooler talk and Rex Murphy on CBC's Cross Country Canada) is that people would be tired of the constant elections (about 1 every 12-18 months) and give Harper's Conservatives a majority.

"Also, do you still live in Vancouver, or did I make that up? Either way, how crazy are things getting for the olympics?"

Yup, still in Vancouver. The Olympics are all over the news. The build-up is only gonna get more crazy as we approach February. It's bordering on nauseating now with all of the feel-good Olympic commercials narrated by Donald Sutherland on the TV.

"And can I offer up my services to write about TV stuff when the expansion time comes?"

Think about what's missing from the site's TV coverage now and then email me with what you conceive of doing.

Edited the TV related part because I thought of some stuff and will email you in the morning if it still makes sense to me then.

Oh, and by the way, it completely blows me away that the NHL is doing everything possible NOT to let the Phoenix team move to Hamilton. That makes zero sense.

So the mood is to stick with what isn't politically broken, basically? Except everybody thinks it's broken but is tired of making the effort to fix it?

Do you know how much sympathy I have for you for having to hear Donald Sutherland on TV every day? That man's voice makes me want to stab kittens.

Patrick Sauriol wrote:

Space Tycoon:"How cool is it to be a Canadian? That's more of a statement than a question."Back when I was just a 5-year-old kid I didn't want to be a Canadian because I wanted to be an astronaut. I loved everything to do with space as a kid. Around that age I realized that when I was a grown-up I wouldn't be able to be an astronaut because only Americans and Soviets had space programs, and even as a kid I realized that Canada wasn't going to be able to afford to make rockets. So instead of deciding to become an astronaut I decided to be the next best thing, a guy that comes up with stories about space.I wonder what would have happened if I knew that Canada would have a space division in a few years and partner with the US on sending Canadians up into space on the shuttle.

Wow, it's amazing how much that statement could apply to me. And it's worth pointing out that we have private companies aiming for suborbital launches, as well as a spaceport on the go in Cape Breton...

Totally agree with you about our politics as well.

And the robotic arm on the ISS, that's Canadian isn't it?

Is that what they use to grab a beer from the fridge?