Pushing The Boulder Up The Hill
Thanks for all of your encouragement and your patience. Here is a little more that I can tell you from “The Fraggle Frontier.”
I’ve got a better understanding of what’s happening right now in the development process. All parties are circling up to keep this ball moving down the field (although it’s always more like pushing a boulder up a hill). For those of you who are frustrated and impatient about how long this is taking, Welcome To The Movie Business! This is nothing new. Each project of this size involves huge amounts of money and lots of people (and multiple companies) agreeing on the same creative, financial and strategic plans. And then some of those plans take a lot of time to execute. Yes, I am speaking in code again, but this is what I can tell you.
The good news is that the material that I’ve handed in is solid. Everyone loves the story, the script, the comedy, and my approach to making the movie. All the main characters have fun arcs and their own adventures within the big story. And we’ve never wavered from the main story and the approach — to say a lot of important things about our society and what’s really important in life. That’s always been important to me, and it’s always been important to Henson and the Weinstein Company. Because frankly, it was always important to Jim.
More good news to report: while awaiting production greenlight, I have continued to have very productive meetings as if I’m already making the movie. I’m meeting with my top casting choices, I’m meeting with some really cool music talents, and I am continuing to visually develop the movie. I’ve storyboarded two new sequences and am in the middle of contracting some concept artists to create some very big full-color scenes from the film.
And I will say again that we are striving to bring on any and every ORIGINAL PUPPETEERING CAST MEMBER that we can. Some may not work out, but that is what we are shooting for.
I was also encouraged to hear that Henson is going to publish a series of Fraggle Rock Comic Books. I think it would be cool to tie some of those comics stories to the mythology of the feature, maybe even cook up a direct prequel or B-story. I’m just throwing that out there, Henson Publishing. Call me!
But the news that you really want to hear — the news that the movie is moving into production — just hasn’t happened yet. There are some major chess pieces that need to be in place to make sure this film has the best possible budget, distribution and promotion when it comes out. And I’m sure that’s what we all want! The time we take now insures that this is a major release that brings a lot of hype and excitement and creates a new generation of Fraggle Fans. So as I wait, I’m proceeding with all that I can do on my side. I just wanted to feed you all something, anything, as you check the blog. At least this lets you know that I’m not dead or sleeping and that I’m working my tail off.
Yes, I’ve had a tail added. That’s how far I’ve gone to keep a Fraggle perspective.
In other Cory News, I am cooking on some new pitches to take out. These are wildly different movies, so it has been fun. One involves a lot of crazy music, another involves storyboarding a 150-panel action sequence, and another one has got me designing robotic technology and weapons. So with the uncertain future this job carries with it, it’s still a pretty cool job.
Peace from the Trash Heap,
Cory
FOLLOW ME, SOLDIER! And yes, that’s a Churro I’m smoking.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I'm reposting that photo with the headline, "WOLVERINE STORMS DISNEYLAND!"
Great news, all of it! Thanks for keeping us informed. 🙂
June 29th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Given that you're creating storyboards, is it safe to say that the project is in active pre-development?
June 29th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Let's see. You get a tail implanted, then you work it off; seems like an exercise in futility to me… 😉
June 29th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Ohhh, I meant to ask! Any chance we can get a sample glimpse at what a single storyboard looks like…?
Or a rough recreation, even? 😉
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
Thanks for the update Cory!
You mention meeting with performers and music folks, and how you’re trying to bring back every original puppeteer. Please don’t forget about the two gentlemen who wrote all those wonderful Fraggle melodies: Philip Balsam and Dennis Lee. It would be invaluable to have them back.
Here’s one fan’s opinion: I understand the need for contemporary musicians – promotion, awareness, etc. However, I would bet the (new) music of Balsam and Lee would be unmistakable for this movie. Times have changed and, for a project like this, fans need a bridge to the original series. Some key performers and writers are no longer around, but this two-man addition – and their talents – is the one department possible to keep intact, and their work could unify your movie in a way no other aspect of production would.
If you must have contemporary musicians, talented as they may be, please leave them to the soundtrack album. Maybe a second, “Inspired by” album. Only Balsam and Lee can 1) generate authentic Fraggle music that harks back to the feeling of the original and 2) bring that original feeling and musical sensibility to 2009. Their music was a result of THEM. New compositions would inevitably reflect how they live, and work partnered together, in 2009. You can’t get more contemporary than that, can you?
July 8th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Love the beard. Wolverine indeed!
July 31st, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I just checked Hoodwinked 2 on IMDB. What do you think of the new title? Personally I find it kind of annoying.
Also when it lists the reasons for its PG rating it mentions language. Is there cussing in it?
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:03 am
That's not a new title. That's been the title since the first draft. Some people just catch on late. Sorry you think it's annoying, but my wife actually came up with it… and I think it's catchy and clever.
No (he said with a heavy sigh), there is no cussing in our animated family film. But my guess is that it probably got a PG rating for all the drug-addicted zombies that get beheaded in the climax (spoiler alert!).
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
Just to be clear I like the Hood vs. Evil part. It's the Too/Two pun that I find kind of annoying.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Now THAT is the weird part… I don't think we (the writers) called it "Hoodwinked Too!" Somewhere in production that got added, I think due to an actual line where someone yells, "You've been Hoodwinked too!!" (To joke about being in a sequel).
So there are several things like that, things that have "evolved" from the script to the screen that we never intended, but are still kind of amusing.
Or annoying! 🙂
August 28th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Anything new on the Fraggle front? Fans are getting restless for an update after hearing about the Weinstein financial challenges.
January 6th, 2010 at 7:13 am
Your TAIL? Your TAIL? It's a Baloobious not a Tail! 😉