Thursday, February 21, 2013

Blast from the Past #619: June 5, 2003: Re: FutureMan, Re: comments on Ep. 37/"Modern Love: The Return of Nano" first draft script, Re: TMNT - Ep 035, and June 6, 2003: Re: TMNT - 2nd draft eps. 36




Subj: Re: FutureMan
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2003 12:39:57 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 6/2/03 7:56:34 PM, Lloyd writes:

<< Hey Pete -

You made it 2/3 of the way up?  Down?  The picture you sent is strangely
disquieting, almost as if the Segway made it, but you didn't!

Either way, looks like it was a great trip!

Lloyd >>

Lloyd,

I actually made it roughly 2/3 of the way up. I parked my car at the Visitors' Center near the bottom, which is about a mile and a half up off the main highway (Rt. 7) which goes by Mt. Greylock. I went up until the charge indicator was showing one bar (out of 5), though I probably should have turned back a little before that (I ended up walking part of the way back, hauling the Segway along, on some stretches which actually went UP instead of down).
Even so, it was a great trip. And I intend to try it again, once I figure out how hard it is to take the batteries out of a fully charged Segway, and whether or not they're too heavy to carry in a backpack (so I can swap out the discharged ones for the fresh at the 2/3 mark). I'll keep you posted!

-- Pete

------------------------

Subj: Re: comments on Ep. 37/"Modern Love: The Return of Nano" first draft script
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2003 12:54:34 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 6/3/03 3:16:48 PM, Lloyd writes:

<< Hey Peter!

As for the NANO episode, I have a ton of notes.  I thought the relationship stuff doesn't work (April and Casey or Harry and Dr. Richards), the logic of why they go to the amusement park after it closes doesn't work, the whole Ferris Wheel thing doesn't work (besides being poorly realized for all the
reasons you put forth, the scene as written has the Turtles destroying property for no particular reason as well as almost killing Harry and Dr. Richards by accident!   >>

Good point. And while it certainly wasn't perfect, I thought the Casey/April and Harry/Dr. Richard stuff had been improved.

<<Also, did you see Gary's notes?  He hates the whole script and suggests we kill it!

What do you think?

Lemme know!>>

I don't think it's time to kill it yet -- let's see what happens in the next draft.

<<Lloyd

PS - When you started to go on about George Ferris, I was going to recommend
that you read THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, which I read a month or so ago!
Was that a great read or what? >>

A great read, definitely. I understand it's being developed as a movie.

-- Peter

------------------------

Subj: Re: TMNT - Ep 035
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2003 1:38:39 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

Lloyd,

This third draft is good. I have only one suggestion, regarding Leo's line #132:

132. **LEONARDO (CONT’D)
And, even if the Shredder’s still out there, I know one thing, that if we stick together, we can’t be beat.  We’re a family.  And, no matter what the Shredder throws at us, no matter how he messes with our lives, facing us, he doesn’t stand a chance.

I think I understand what is being gotten at here, and I know it sets up Mikey's next line, but I think it's a bit much. I suggest changing it in the following fashion:

132. **LEONARDO (CONT’D)
And, even if the Shredder’s still out there, no matter what he throws at us, no matter how he messes with our lives, nothing he does will change the most important thing -- that we’re a family.

-- Peter

-----------------------------------

Subj: Re: TMNT - 2nd draft eps. 36
Date: Friday, June 6, 2003 12:32:03 AM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

In a message dated 6/5/03 12:04:45 AM, Lloyd writes:

<< Me again Pete!

FYI, the one thing we're still tweaking on the Ultimate Ninja script is the through line/parallel between the movie they watch and the duel with the Ultimate Ninja.  One problem seems to be that we've set up the idea that the U.N. is fighting solely for glory... but we didn't give Leo anything much else to fight for except his perceived sense of "honor." While honor is important to us ninja folk, the distinction in this particular story isn't really distinct enough.  In the cowboy movie, Sheriff Bart fights to "defend his loved ones," and I think we're going to have Leo do the same.  He will be compelled to fight because Splinter and the others' safety will be threatened.

To allude to the great Star Trek episode "Arena" again, it's kind of like the ending of that episode.  The alien who forced Kirk to fight the Gorn says that he saw no difference between Kirk and the Gorn.  Kirk asks the alien what he offered the Gorn if he won.  I believe wealth and power is the reply.  "You offered me the lives of my crew," Kirk responds.  I think that's what we're trying to add with this final tweak and I think it will help strengthen and streamline the script.  >>

Lloyd,

As we discussed today in one of our phone conversations, I agree that Leo's motivation needs tweaking. My only concern is that because we establish in this episode that Splinter knows the rules, whatever we do makes sense in the context of the later "Big Brawl" episode, i.e. are the battles fought in that tournament ALSO going to be so potentially fatal for the combatant's friends and family? Or are the rules for this personal challenge combat different from those of the battles in the "Big Brawl"? 

-- Pete

18 comments:

  1. I'm sure you're aware, but just in case:
    http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118066448/

    Thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
  2. My only exposure to Megan Fox as an actress is through her role in two "Transformers" movies and the wretched (but happily forgettable) "Jennifer's Body". It may not be fair to judge her range of acting skills just from those three movies, but I think it is safe to say that there are probably hundreds of better choices for the role of April O'Neil. Of course, her name has promotional value, and maybe that's what they want. Who knows? I can't get myself too worked up about it. -- PL

    ReplyDelete
  3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajfrM3OTCAI I figure you would enjoy this! We all love you sir. Don't let Michael Bay destroy this franchise!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No please don't let that poor excuse of a director ruin the Turtles franchise. As a GIRL who used to watch TMNT every afternoon when she got in from school and LOVED the series I would be mortified to see it ruined by a director that gives no consideration to the original story line and whose whole premise is to add more explosions to compensate for it. More BOOM does not make a good movie. Not when there is so much back story and current animosity between the characters.

      Please do not let that man destroy the Turtles good name.

      Delete
    2. Sorry, but I have nothing to do with any current TMNT projects (except for annotations to some of the IDW reprints of old TMNT comics), and no control over any aspect of the upcoming movie.

      You should probably direct your energies toward the company which now owns the TMNT and the company doing the movie. I'm not sure if you would have any effect, but who knows? Stranger things have happened. -- PL

      Delete
    3. PL my biggest concern as a female fan of the TMNT franchise is not really the choice of having Megan Fox portray her but how much I feel Michael Bay will ruin everything about her persona.

      To me, as a girl growing up in the 80s/90s April O'neil was a hero to me. She was an inspiration, even as a cartoon character. She was educated, intelligent, street smart, a nice person, humbled, and self sufficient. EVERYTHING that a girl should strive to be. Knowing Michael Bay and how he made a mockery of the Transformers franchise I desperately see him taking your strong female character and turning her into a character that's only a pretty face. He'll probably make her some annoying damsel in distress, that April would have never been, and nothing but a sex symbol. She'll have absolutely no substance to her persona at all. Seeing that monstrosity would literally make me cry. April should never been seen as just a pretty face with a hot body and no substance. She was an animated mentor, a hero, and inspiration to young girls and she should continue to be.

      Do you know who is producing this movie? I will gladly start a petition to have this deplorable piece of what will probably be movie garbage thrown in the can where it belongs.

      Delete
    4. I appreciate your fondness for the character of April O'Neil and that she inspired you, and I hope that the new movie treats the character with the respect she deserves. I certainly think it's possible, and I would advocate a "wait and see" approach.

      As to who is doing the upcoming movie, I did a little Googling and found a page which listed Bay, his company Platinum Dunes, and Paramount as the parties involved. -- PL

      Delete
  4. Bay is going to completely screw it up, a better job could be done by a butt sniffing pup. I mean Fox as April? That just makes me feel ill. It is clear he only wants her for a thrill. But for the audience or himself, we'll leave that to the rumormill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's desperately trying to give that girl a career. Yeah she's a pretty face with a nice body but April was NEVER a "sex symbol" or a bimbo, she was a tough gal with lots of street smarts and gumption. Megan Fox is NONE of those things.

      Delete
  5. Cast actress Allison Kelly as April www.AllisonKelly.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bryce Dallas Howard as April O'neill.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jasika Nicole (who played Astrid on Fringe) looks a lot like the April in the comics, and she would have been a fantastic choice to play April. But sadly, Michael Bay has no idea how to develop characters, never mind female characters. I'm so disappointed that he was allowed anywhere near this franchise after what he did to Transformers; in the hands of a real storyteller, the new movie could make money AND - get this - be good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mr. Peter Laird and fans of TMNT, Miss Megan Fox is going to introduce a whole new generation of fans and cross over fans from Transformers. I, for one, will go see the movie. Only because it was Michael Bay who apologized not Megan Fox. NOW IS THE TIME TO LET BAY KNOW TO STAY WITH THE ORIGINAL STORYLINE MAKE APRIL A REAL ROCK'N HERO
    and Hire Megan Fox for Transformers 4 with Mark Wahlberg (already hired).

    Dude's and Lady Ninja, Megan Fox rocks for us Cherokee.
    do-`da-ga-g`hv-i

    ReplyDelete
  9. http://shanekasallpurposeblog.blogspot.com/ lovely

    ReplyDelete
  10. hey peter any chance of a "true to comic" adult representation animated movie or limited animated tv series of the turtles coming out? (perhaps similar in nature to the spawn tv series) those of us that have been reading the comics would die to see this! the movies and cartoons have their place (like Adam Wests batman for example) but its been done to death now, the turtles were always best when dealing with adult issues/situations
    by the way love your commentary/thoughts in the collected idw series its awesome keep it up ^^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I pointed out above:

      I have nothing to do with any current TMNT projects (except for annotations to some of the IDW reprints of old TMNT comics), and no control over any aspect of the upcoming movie.

      You should probably direct your energies toward the company which now owns the TMNT and the company doing the movie. I'm not sure if you would have any effect, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.
      -- PL

      Delete
  11. otr214427
    INTERNATIONAL CONCEPT OF WORK FROM HOME
    Work from home theory is fast gaining popularity because of the freedom and flexibility that comes with it. Since one is not bound by fixed working hours, they can schedule their work at the time when they feel most productive and convenient to them. Women & Men benefit a lot from this concept of work since they can balance their home and work perfectly. People mostly find that in this situation, their productivity is higher and stress levels lower. Those who like isolation and a tranquil work environment also tend to prefer this way of working. Today, with the kind of communication networks available, millions of people worldwide are considering this option.

    Women & Men who want to be independent but cannot afford to leave their responsibilities at home aside will benefit a lot from this concept of work. It makes it easier to maintain a healthy balance between home and work. The family doesn't get neglected and you can get your work done too. You can thus effectively juggle home responsibilities with your career. Working from home is definitely a viable option but it also needs a lot of hard work and discipline. You have to make a time schedule for yourself and stick to it. There will be a time frame of course for any job you take up and you have to fulfill that project within that time frame.

    There are many things that can be done working from home. A few of them is listed below that will give you a general idea about the benefits of this concept.

    Baby-sitting
    This is the most common and highly preferred job that Women & Men like doing. Since in today's competitive world both the parents have to work they need a secure place to leave behind their children who will take care of them and parents can also relax without being worried all the time. In this job you don't require any degree or qualifications. You only have to know how to take care of children. Parents are happy to pay handsome salary and you can also earn a lot without putting too much of an effort.

    Nursery
    For those who have a garden or an open space at your disposal and are also interested in gardening can go for this method of earning money. If given proper time and efforts nursery business can flourish very well and you will earn handsomely. But just as all jobs establishing it will be a bit difficult but the end results are outstanding.

    Freelance
    Freelance can be in different wings. Either you can be a freelance reporter or a freelance photographer. You can also do designing or be in the advertising field doing project on your own. Being independent and working independently will depend on your field of work and the availability of its worth in the market. If you like doing jewellery designing you can do that at home totally independently. You can also work on freelancing as a marketing executive working from home. Wanna know more, email us on workfromhome.otr214427@gmail.com and we will send you information on how you can actually work as a marketing freelancer.


    Internet related work
    This is a very vast field and here sky is the limit. All you need is a computer and Internet facility. Whatever field you are into work at home is perfect match in the software field. You can match your time according to your convenience and complete whatever projects you get. To learn more about how to work from home, contact us today on workfromhome.otr214427@gmail.comand our team will get you started on some excellent work from home projects.


    Diet food
    Since now a days Women & Men are more conscious of the food that they eat hence they prefer to have homemade low cal food and if you can start supplying low cal food to various offices then it will be a very good source of income and not too much of efforts. You can hire a few ladies who will help you out and this can be a good business.

    Thus think over this concept and go ahead.

    ReplyDelete