"Blast from the Past" #572: June 23, 2009: Re: Hey howdy hey, July 3, 2009: Re: A few more quick questions..., July 4, 200: Re: A few more quick questions..., July 10, 2009: Re: Send props! :), July 22, 2009: Re: Turtles Forever, and July 28, 2009: Turtles Forever

Subj: Re: Hey howdy hey
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:46:17 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 6/22/09 12:30:58 PM, Lloyd writes:

Hiya Pete –
 
 Well, after more than 8 years, it looks like our collaboration on TMNT is drawing to a close.
 
 Damn!  I’m not finished with ‘em yet!  J
 
 Hey, do you think you might be free next week, Wednesday perhaps?  If I can get away from the studio here (we’re racing the clock to make our TMNT / ComicCon deadline), I thought I might come up to pester you about a few (very few) details of the 25th Anniversary Project, but mostly to hang out.
 
 Hope you and the family are doing well (and staying dry!).
 
 Cheers,
 
 Lloyd>>

Lloyd,


Good to hear from you! I don't think I have anything going on next Wednesday (that would be July 1?), at least as far as I know. Come on up!


-- Pete

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Subj: Re: A few more quick questions...
Date: Friday, July 3, 2009 11:40:42 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 7/2/09 11:44:46 PM, Lloyd writes:

Hey Pete –
 
 I thought of a couple more questions today, so here they are:
 
What kind of paper was the (in)famous original sketch(es) of the first Ninja Turtle made on?  Drawing paper?  Scrap paper?  A napkin?>>

Lloyd,


As I recall, it was just an 8.5 by 11 sheet of white paper.

<< Where did you put your brush when you were putting it down?  On a tray, palette or put-down bowl?  On a paper towel?  In a cup? >>

If I was using my brush (i.e. inking with it), I generally wouldn't put it down until I was finished with it. Then I would rinse it off (to get the ink out of the bristles), very likely in an old mug or cup I would keep next to my chair. I might have had another mug or cup to store the brush(es) when not in use, pointing brush-end up.

<<Same question for ink pens.>>

Same answer, basically.

<< Do you remember what color sweater Kevin might have worn?>>

No... but it was probably something with darker colors, and probably not much int he way of patterns.

<<Would it be cricket to sneak a Frank Miller Daredevil comic somewhere into the shot, or nah?>>

Given that we dedicated the first issue to both Frank Miller and Jack Kirby, I think it would be very cool to have books by BOTH of those guys somewhere in the shot, if legally feasible.

<<These are the burning issues that keep me awake at night, so lemme know.>>

Always glad to help you get your beauty sleep!
 
<< Again, great seein ya yesterday!>>

Ditto!
 
<< Lloyd
 
 PS – Hey, I really enjoyed TMNT issue 30!  Glad to have it back!>>

Thanks, Lloyd!
 
 <<PPS – Captain T’Zirk?!  Hmmmm, how’d ya come up with that one?!  J>>

It WAS pretty obvious, wasn't it?


-- Pete

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Subj: Re: A few more quick questions...
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009 12:30:52 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 7/3/09 12:36:53 PM, Lloyd writes:

And any particular Kirby?

My preference would be anything from "New Gods", "Forever People", Mister Miracle", or "The Demon".


-- Pete

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Subj: Re: A few more quick questions...
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009 12:30:02 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 7/3/09 12:27:39 PM, Lloyd writes:

Here’s another one:
 
 What did you use to rule lines with?  A regular wooden ruler (like a school ruler)?  A straight edge?  T-square (wood or metal)?
 
 The office is closed today, but I’m here rearranging furniture and shooting a test of this scene.  Woo –hoo!
 
 Lloyd

Lloyd,


I probably had a plastic ruler.


-- Pete

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Subj: Re: Send props! :)
Date: Friday, July 10, 2009 11:02:33 PM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 7/2/09 12:29:40 AM, Lloyd writes:

Hey Pete –
 
 As always, it was great seeing you today.  I’m glad you were up for it.
 
 I’m just dropping you this quick reminder to send me the duo-tone bottles (and anything else you think might be worth sending).>>

Lloyd,


I hope you got the bottles -- I asked Katie to send them a few days ago. And it was great to see you, too!
 
<< Oh, and in case you’re watching the DVD tonight, keep in mind that the voices for the original comic book Turtles that are in there now are just temporary scratch-voices.>>

That's good to know. I enjoyed watching all of it... I think it will make a lot of people happy! (Even without the original Fred Wolf cartoon voices!)
 
 <<Be well… and thanks for a nice Wednesday!
 
 Lloyd
 
 PS – Hey!  We forgot to go to the comic shop! J>>

Yes, we did... how did that happen?!


-- Pete

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Subj: Re: Turtles Forever
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 11:12:18 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 7/22/09 4:20:02 AM, Lloyd writes:

<<Hey Pete –
 
 First, I wanted to let you know that we’re putting the finishing touches on the 25th Anniversary DVD project even as I type these words - - very exciting (and exhausting)!  And then I rush home, pack, and fly out to San Diego to hand deliver the tape.  Whew!  We’ll just make it!
 
 To properly courier this rare and valuable animated treasure, I requested an armored attaché case with an unbreakable adamantium chain that I could handcuff to my wrist, but when it was pointed out to me that if anyone really wanted the tape they’d just cut off my hand I realized maybe I just better carry it in my backpack.
 
 Second, tomorrow a DVD of the entire finished spectacle will be overnighted to you. If possible, I suggest you watch it Friday night, right around the time they screen it in San Diego.

 Or not.  J
 
 At any rate, I really hope you enjoy it.>>

Lloyd,


Although I have been involved in a few "right smack up to the deadline" projects in the past, I don't think any of them compare in complexity to this thing you've been working on. You have my congratulations. (And thanks!) I look forward to watching the finished piece. I hope the fans in SD give you the proper appreciation.
  
<< Finally, as I suspected, I was laid-off earlier today (my last actual day is Friday – the ComicCon screening will be my last official Turtles’ duty).  You and I already talked about all this, and I don’t wanna get all mushy in an e-mail, so just know that I hope we get to work together again sometime.  
 
 And stay in touch!>>

It's never a whole lot of fun getting laid off, but at least it didn't come as a complete surprise to you. Cold comfort, that... but I suspect you will land on your feet. The industry needs your talent.


And hey -- I don't mind mushy emails! To reiterate what I said to you when you came up to visit, the experience of working with you over the last seven (eight?) years has been great -- I'd definitely put it in my top five TMNT-related work experiences. You know, it's possible that you and I worked together on the show longer than Kevin and I worked together on the comics.
I also hope we can keep in touch and possibly work together on something in the future... maybe something not related to Turtles (at least THESE Turtles).
 
<< I’ll let you know how things go at ComicCon.>>

I look forward to your report... and if you'd like, I could put it up on my blog.
 
<< Thanks mucho amigo,
 
 Lloyd
 
 PS – I love(d) bein’ a Turtle!>>

Thanks man -- it was great having you as part of the team!


-- Pete

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Subj: Turtles Forever
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 8:43:16 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

Lloyd,


     I don't know if you are still in SD or back home, but I must offer my congratulations for a job well done. From what I have heard so far, the response to the showing of "Turtles Forever" was wildly positive. I hope you got lots of strokes out there!
     I actually got two calls from Mirage guys -- Eric Talbot and Steve Lavigne -- who called me all the way from SD just to tell me how awesome they thought it was.
     Now... two questions:


     1.) Emily desperately wants a copy she can watch at home (she loved it too, and even told me that she teared up in a couple of spots). Is it okay if I make her a copy? I also suspect my brother Bruce (TMNT fan #1) would love to see it.


     2.) I've seen online a bunch of comments about how cool it would be if there could be a east coast showing of "Turtles Forever", hopefully sooner rather than later. Any thoughts on that?


     Once again, congratulations!


     -- Pete

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So… it looks like that's the end of my emails between me and Lloyd (and a few other 4kids staff members) regarding the TMNT tv show. Not a bad way to end our run, I think, with "Turtles Forever", which I see as a pretty cool piece of work.


However… this is not quite the end of these "behind the scenes" emails, as -- if you remember back this far -- when I started posting these, I actually started with a post from August 1, 2003 (http://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/blast-from-past-296-notes-from.html), which was near the beginning of the development of the show, but there were still some months of work prior to that point… and I think I may have some of those emails, as well. I need to check to see if I successfully saved them from an older computer, and if I did, I will start posting them shortly. -- PL