Most people who visit my blog and have something to say about it leave comments. But a lot of people send emails as well, even those who leave comments, and I never know what's going to bring it on. Usually I have to do something people consider to be bad taste (like setting a clown's ass on fire) or say something controversial (though I am still trying to figure out how wanting people to be happy is controversial), but I just never know. This morning the emails were about my entry from last night about wanting my own talk show...
"Are you serious about that??? A DAve cartoon show would be so cute!!!"
Errr... yes... I am quite serious. I'm serious about trying it, anyway. You see, I love the idea of podcasts, but I would completely suck at it (like most people do). And every time I run across a fantastic podcast, my jealousy soars. The one who is most responsible for my jealousy is Mr. Jerz. All he does is ramble on about stuff that's on his mind, but he's really, really good at it. Unlike Jerz, who actually has a "radio voice," I most definitely do not. I am going to need something to make me interesting. But all I know how to do is draw goofy cartoons, so that's what it's going to have to be.
The problem is that animation is (in the immortal words of Dubbuya) hard work. For instance, just to lip-sync with the audio is a massive chore. I spent days analyzing Wallace and Gromit cartoons, and spent close to six hours drawing the mouths necessary to create convincing speech...
The idea is to emulate South Park (which I worship). They have jerky, crappy animation... but the mouths are always perfectly in sync, so they can get away with it. Since I'm doing a talk show, I figure that the mouths have to be perfect, and I wouldn't worry about the rest. I thought it would be easy, but it absolutely is not. This is some difficult shit right here. There are "sets" to be built, scripts to write, storyboards to draw up... you'd be surprised at how many hours fly by on the simplest of things.
So, the bad news is that it is going to take a long while before I can actually post the first edition of Dave's Bad-Ass Blogography Show. There is a scary amount of work left to be done (and, if anybody is interested, I'll keep you apprised of my progress). The good news is that I think it will be friggin' sweet once it has been completed! Not only can my cartoon persona do things that I could never do in real life (yes, he packs a gun and is NOT afraid to use it), I really can have guests like Elizabeth Hurley and Paris Hilton on my show!
I sure hope that it gets easier after the first episode (blogisode?) though.
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Do you shoot Paris Hilton?
I would pay some serious money to see that.
Uhhh… SOMETHING is going to happen to Paris, but a gun is not involved. 🙂
Can i have a guest spot as a dancing panda? I do tricks.
I’m guessing you’d be doing it in flash? Are you familiar with David Firths stuff? He’s pretty much mastered the art of flash animation. Simple but affective. His lip sync looks kinda random but it somehow works. Also, if i’ve picked anything up from watching his efforts its that the voice acting is the most important part.
Check out http://www.fat-pie.com/salad2.htm, this episode probably represents his work better than any other.
When I first read about this idea, I was thinking along the lines of a static cartoon strip. I thought that it would kick ass. Your idea would kick so much more than just ass. Can’t wait to see what you churn out.
Ooooh… it would be risky coming on as a dancing panda. I’m thinking ToonDave would probably shoot something like that! I have seen Firth’s stuff, and yes mine will be Flash-based (though I may ultimately end up in QuickTime for the special effects I want to do. The voice track for the first episode is pretty much done… I completed it weeks ago… it’s just trying to figure out how to animate the stuff I’ve dreamed up that’s difficult. And, stupid me, I didn’t go for the easy-out here… it’s ALL difficult. 🙁
I can’t wait to see how it’s going to turn out either. The simple tests I’ve done look promising, but you never know until it’s all come together.
Dave, your new show sounds like a hoot! I would love to be a guest on your first show…while living the 50’s as a teen, I could enlighten your viewers and fans with what a ass-kicking time the 50’s were and how those days have molded our Nation with great music and movies….for example the 50’s movie ” The Day the Earth Stood Still” and the TV show ,American Bandstand” which was on every day and makes today’s MTV-type shows look like a joke. Harold
Ah yes… “The Day The Earth Stood Still” is a classic, classic film. I just love the scene where they doctors are sitting around amazed at how old Klaatu is and what remarkable health he seems to have… and then they both light up a cigarette. Brilliant!
Do you have a story board yet? Maybe you could post that and have it act as a pilot.
If you need a sidekick, I’m a very good yes man. Also, I’d be more than willing to blow people’s heads up when needed.
I do have storyboards for six episodes, but I really, really want to animate them rather than tossing up an incomplete work. The stuff I’ve come up with is kind of nifty (if I do say so myself!), but it’s the animation that will make it entertaining. For example, President Bush having to use his Real ID card to get on the show isn’t that funny on storyboards, but I think it will be great when animated (especially once my monkey gets involved).
I would very much like to interview other bloggers on the show once I get the hang of how to animate stuff, so I’ll add your name to the list. You can drop by on Dress-Like-A-Pirate-Day. Or perhaps Bitch-Slap-A-Celebrity-Day. I think MRKisThatKid has already claimed Hawaiian-Shirt-Day… and I definitely want Mr. Jerz for Blow-Shit-Up-Day, though he’d probably rather show up on Free-Beer-Day. The last show I’ve got scripted is Clothing-Optional-Day, though I’m afraid you’re not quite what I had in mind for that one. 🙂
Oooh. I tingle with excitement.
Or maybe a mild case of food poisoning!
😉
There’s gotta be a “Random Irish Person” show in there somewhere. lol