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Paul Dini's LiveJournal:
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| Sunday, February 12th, 2012 | | 6:00 pm |
On the subject of Tower Prep...
First off, let me say how grateful I am to the hundreds of Tower Prep fans who have contacted me in the year since the series finished its original run on Cartoon Network. I'm thrilled that the show was enjoyed by so many and I also am sorry that Cartoon Network has chosen not to renew it. Many people have asked me about petitions, e-mail campaigns and the like to keep the show going. I'm not sure what attention they would be paid at this point, though of all of the options, an e-mail campaign would have the least effect. Actual posted (stamped and mailed)letters are what most networks respond to. I once heard Seth McFarlane say that after Family Guy was cancelled the first time, Fox was ready to reconsider after they received something like only 200 letters. I'm not saying the same thing could happen with Cartoon Network, but a show of letters from kid viewers, and, just as important, parents who have watched and enjoyed the show with their kids, might show the Network that the series is missed. This is especially important now that Tower Prep has started showing around the world and is making fans in Australia, Africa and South America, among other countries. Anyway, lots of people have asked where they can send their letters, so I have included the address below. As always, the letters should be polite and never hurtful. After all, these are the nice folks who took a chance on producing the show in the first place. Let 'em know you like it, you miss it, and who knows? Let's see what happens. Mr. Stuart Snyder President Cartoon Network 1050 Techwood Drive NW Atlanta GA 30318 Thanks, guys. Hugs from Sr. Guapo and me. Paul | | Sunday, October 30th, 2011 | | 12:41 pm |
Halloween cartoon party
A few of my favorite creepy cartoons. Enjoy. Donald Duck at his assholiest. A Disney classic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skdVouumMk4Fox & Crow - not exactly a horror cartoon, but it has some freaky magic in it, and I loves me the freaky magicians. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDtEngKKs5sJasper in the Haunted House. Yeah, it's "of it's day," meaning racist, but the music and animation is great. If offended, accept my apologies and give it a pass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onhqu36AEPYUPA's "Tell-Tale Heart." Just brilliant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJb150JRqpQPrimus - The Devil Went Down To Georgia. Can't have too much Satan this time of year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9uk9IcoQ0wIt mystifies me why H-B never sold a Mr. & Mrs. J. Evil Scientist series. Maybe because they were a too obvious rip-off of the Chas. Addams New Yorker cartoons. Anyway, as a kid I liked them. Here they are with Snagglepuss, not exactly a Halloween icon, but kinda creepy for other reasons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vv7kI81pekBetty Boop's Halloween Party. Surprisingly, kind of tame for Betty, but still fun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyLINozyD14Bugs Bunny, with June Foray returning as a slightly different Witch Hazel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCg8OiCjNWI&feature=relatedTim Burton's "Vincent." I've loved this since I first saw it, what, almost 30 years ago? Man, where does the time go? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD8uQzu0IL0Happy Halloween! Current Mood:  cheerful | | Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 | | 9:32 pm |
October 18th
Yes! Remember that date, October 18th, 2011. Just one week from today! Lots of cool stuff written by me being released that day. Here's the run-down: BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY This is the big one, kids. The new game I developed and wrote with the team at Rocksteady. More Gotham, more bad guys, MORE BATMAN! Even if you've been following all the advance press on the game, I guarantee you are still in for loads of surprises. If you liked 2009's Arkham Asylum, you will definitely want this. Available at game stores, toy stores, big box stores (Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target) amazon.com and just about everyplace else. BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY - THE GRAPHIC NOVEL Wanna learn how Gotham became a walled-in mega-prison? This book has the complete story. Contains all five print issues and five digital-only chapters from the comic book prequel to the Arkham City game. Available at amazon.com, select game, toy and book stores, Barnes & Noble on line only, and at your local comic book store. BATMAN: YEAR ONE DVD No, I didn't work on the ultra-cool animated adaptation of the classic Batman story, though I DID script a fifteen minute bonus CATWOMAN short included in the package. I just saw the finished piece for the first time last night. It's quite amazing. Whew! That's it for October, but look for a new Jingle Belle issue, GIFT WRAPPED, out December 7th from Top Cow! What better way to celebrate Pearl Harbor Day than with a return visit from everyone's favorite flirty Christmas elf? Current Mood:  anxious | | Monday, August 15th, 2011 | | 11:19 am |
Me, being a jerk
Sigh. Once again I find I have to be a total asshole and post the following article. It's hurtful, rude and at times very insensitive, but recent circumstances demand it. Still, pretty much every writer I know has felt this way at one time, and,if you are an aspiring screenwriter who someday sells their work, I guarantee at some time you will feel this way, too. So, without further apologies: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/09/i_will_not_read.php Current Mood:  annoyed | | Thursday, July 7th, 2011 | | 5:52 pm |
My schedule for Comic-Con 2011
The San Diego Comic Con is in two weeks. It's really in and out for me this year. I don't have a booth, nor will I be signing anywhere. That said, I do have two panels on Thursday: 3:00-4:00 Classic Warner Bros./Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Going Blu-ray— Animation historian Jerry Beck and Warner Archives' George Feltenstein lead a panel of renowned animation and restoration experts, including Spike Brandt (The Looney Tunes Show), Tony Cervone (The Looney Tunes Show), and Paul Dini (Lost, Tower Prep), in presenting and discussing selected vintage cartoons from Warner Home Video's fall 2011 Blu-ray release of the newly remastered Tom and Jerry Golden Collection and Looney Tunes Platinum Collections. Room 32AB Tags: Animation | Kids 5:00-6:00 Batman: Arkham City— Get the inside scoop on Batman: Arkham City, the highly anticipated follow-up to Batman: Arkham Asylum, one of the top-selling games of 2009 and the Guinness World Record holder for the Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever. Be among the first to see and hear new details about the next chapter in Batman's gritty, immersive world -- including some surprise game and character reveals -- from panelists Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee, writer Paul Dini (Lost, Tower Prep), and game director Sefton Hill (Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront Tags: Comics | Games | Superheroes That's it. See you in Funnybookland. Current Mood:  blah | | Thursday, June 9th, 2011 | | 9:59 pm |
Zatanna
A few folks have asked me about the future of the Zatanna book at DC. I don't know what plans DC has for it after this August, though I can confirm my last issue is the current one, #13. Hope you all enjoyed my run, I know I have. | | Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 | | 6:03 pm |
Great Toy Store
Every now and then you look back at some treasured place from your youth and discover it either no longer exists, or worse, has been changed so thoroughly it no longer has any resemblance to what you once loved. That was almost the case with Mr. Mopps, the great Berkeley neighborhood toy store. I went to Mr. Mopps once a month when I was a kid, and every other week when I hit my 20's. By then I was working at Skywalker Ranch where my Yogi Bear-like raids on the Lucasfilm toy bays were met with curiously sour humor. Fortunately there was Mopps, just a hop across the bay to fulfill my action figure addiction. Mr. Mopps was on the way out last year, but happily rescued by a nice young couple who look like they really should be running a toy store. Next trip to the Bay Area, I am sooo there. And yes, they have an awesome kids book section. http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/10/15/berkeley-couple-buys-mr-mopps-toy-store/ Current Mood: pleased | | Friday, December 24th, 2010 | | 12:10 am |
Radio Rashy is on the air!!!
Big news this Christmas Eve as Misty and I unveil RADIO RASHY, the new on-line home of the Almost Live with Paul & Misty podcasts. At Radio Rashy you can hear the latest weekly podcst, listen to archived episodes and tune in for special mystery broadcasts with special guests. More new features are planned for 2011, so check in every week! Here's the link: http://www.radiorashy.com/Merry Christmas! Current Mood: Jolly | | Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 | | 3:19 pm |
| | Saturday, October 16th, 2010 | | 5:15 pm |
Tonight's entertainment
Pretty happy today. Tower Prep premieres tonight and again this coming Tuesday. I know, that doesn't make sense, so let's just say it runs tonight at 9 on Cartoon Network and again on Tuesday at 8. Getting some good initial press. Hope it keeps up: http://tinyurl.com/2azrdjgNow off to watch the show with a house full of school kids. I'm anxious to know what their reactions will be beyond "Ian is hot." On second thought, given how tight-lipped teens can be, I'll settle for "Ian is hot." Current Mood: chipper | | Friday, September 24th, 2010 | | 3:37 pm |
New Paul & Misty podcast
And we're off to Texas in our latest podcast. Beautiful Texas, home of the javelina, the mountain lion, and the giant tarantula under your bed. Also, how to pronounce a certain magicians name, tips for dealing with wild pigs, and where to buy a decent soprano ukulele in the Trans-Pecos. All this, plus listener twestions, right here: http://tinyurl.com/34geclrAhh-ha! Current Mood: cheerful | | Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 | | 8:45 pm |
| | Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 | | 12:53 pm |
New stuff...
The big news: Three cheers to my beloved Misty Lee who is now the first female resident medium in the Magic Castle's 50 year history! Well done, love! Also: A new podcast is up detailing this year's Comic Con. http://www.dinicartoons.com/forum/showthread.php?p=814#post814Finally: Tower Prep momentum is building. There's a cool overview at Salon.com ranking us among such new series as No Ordinary Family, The Event and my new favorite, Boardwalk Empire. Good company indeed. http://tinyurl.com/28a3e3m Current Mood:  busy | | Saturday, September 18th, 2010 | | 2:28 pm |
They're back...sort of
The Paul & Misty podcasts are making their return, albeit slowly. We have a brand-new podcast site in the works, with new artwork, new features, new everything. Only thing is, it'll take us a while to get it up and running. Shouldn't be too long. To tide you over, here's a link to a podcast that we recorded in April, meant to use then, and now we offer as a quaint, out of date curiosity. New and better more current stuff is coming, we promise. http://tinyurl.com/242rs7o Current Mood: cheerful | | Thursday, September 16th, 2010 | | 11:17 pm |
| | Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 | | 6:58 pm |
Back from Atlanta....
It was a good trip, mostly. Saw lots of friends and cool people at Dragon Con: Peter & Kathleen David, Tom Kenny, Scott Adsit, Ken Plume, Robert Montjoy, Andy Floyd, Stephanie Gladden and John Miller and a zillion others that escape me, so forgive me for all my unintentional omissions. Showed a Tower Prep preview that went over so well I had to reshow it a couple times. Hope that bodes well for the series. Cartoon Network has a new promo running. Not the same one I showed, but not bad: http://tinyurl.com/232jgmeFinally got to meet the Venture Bros. team and did some geeking out of my own. I love that show. Took Misty to the Wren's Nest, the home of Joel Chandler Harris. Heard wonderful tales from the Storyteller on duty that day. Still did not make it to the aquarium or the zoo. Maybe next time. Current Mood: busy | | Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 | | 11:41 am |
This weekend in Atlanta...
As far as comic conventions go, San Diego is always the big circus but Dragon Con is more like a weekend with family and friends. (Ironic, as family and friends will be house sitting for us while we're there). It's always fun to get back to Atlanta, and I'm looking forward to visiting with the artists and writers I missed at San Diego. Misty will be hosting a big event on Monday, Dragon Con's Got Talent. Should be a hoot. I know Misty has a few tricks up her sleeve and I'm anxious to see what the talented con goers will be doing. I'm also appearing on some panels: Title: Lost: It's Over...what did it all mean? Description: Join in a fandom discussion of Lost and what it all meant. Time: Fri 07:00 pm Location: M106 - M107 - Marriott (Length: 1 Hour) I worked on the show for two years and I have absolutely no idea what it meant. Let's swap theories and be mystified together. Title: Paul Dini Presents Tower Prep! Description: Paul Dini talks about his newest project on Cartoon Network, TOWER PREP. See what prizes and surprises are in store. Time: Sat 11:30 am Location: International North - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour) This is my newest project, a live thriller series about four rebellious kids trying to uncover the truth about a mysterious prep school. Who's prepping them, and for what? The series premieres in October, but you can see a special preview created especially for the con. Cartoon Network is also sending in exclusive prizes and posters. You won't want to miss this! Title: Legends of the Dark Knight Description: No, not the book, but the legendary creators who've left their mark on the Dark Knight. Time: Sun 02:30 pm Location: Hanover F - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour) This one features me, Neal Adams, Tim Sale and a bunch of other awesome folks. I've been looking forward to this. Should be a lot of bat-fun. If you can't make the panels, I'm sure I'll have a signing table someplace. If you miss me either of those places, then the tiki bar at Trader Vic's is a good bet. See you there! Current Mood: cheerful | | Monday, July 12th, 2010 | | 9:25 pm |
SDCC 2010
Here's the list of what I've got going on this year at the San Diego Comic Con. The hyperbole comes from the Con's website, not from me: FRIDAY, JULY 23 1:45-2:45 Batman: The Return— As the Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne rages on, follow the Bat-Signal to this panel and uncover clues about the future of the Dark Knight from some of the A-list talent behind the publishing line. If you think you know where this story's headed -- Think again! Hear it here from group editor Mike Marts, Paul Dini (Batman: Streets of Gotham), David Finch (Batman), Grant Morrison (Batman & Robin), Dustin Nguyen (Batman: Streets of Gotham), and others. Room 6DE SUNDAY, JULY 25 11:15-12:15 Cartoon Network: Tower Prep with Firebreather Sneak— Executive producer and series creator Paul Dini (Lost, Batman Beyond) and executive producer Glen Morgan (Bionic Woman) offer fans an exclusive first look at Cartoon Network's newest live-action mystery series Tower Prep. Meet the series stars Drew Van Acker (The Lake), Elise Gatien (Bionic Woman), Ryan Pinkston (Punk'd), and Dyana Liu (Parenthood). Fans will also get an exclusive look at Firebreather, Cartoon Network's first world premiere original CGI movie event based on the comic book series with creator and co-executive producer Phil Hester (The Wretch), co-executive producer Andy Kuhn (Freedom Ring), and writer/director Peter Chung (Aeon Flux). Room 6DE We'll be showing some very cool stuff at the Tower presentation. Definitely worth checking out. No booth for me this year and as I'm not a guest, no scheduled signings either. Still I should be prowling the main floor off and on, so if you see me trying to make my way through the crowd, toss some Stormtroopers out of the way and say hello. Current Mood: pleased | | Friday, June 25th, 2010 | | 7:26 pm |
| | Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 | | 11:38 pm |
A bunch o' junk...
Lots of new stuff on the comics shelves today, including STREETS OF GOTHAM #12, written by me, Derek and Dustin, the STREETS hardcover collecting the FACES OF EVIL Catwoman and Hush stories from Batman and Tec, along with the first four issues of STREETS, and last but not least, ZATANNA #1. This one has been a long time in coming, and I think it looks real sweet. Stephane Roux and Karl Story did an amazing job on the artwork, and if you dug Zee's appearances in B:TAS, JLU and ZATANNA - EVERYDAY MAGIC, you will probably like this, too. *** TOWER PREP is looking real sharp. I can't wait to run a whole episode for a live crowd. Maybe that'll happen over the summer sometime. I'll check with CN and see what their promo plans are. *** Saw IRON MAN 2 on a double bill with BABIES. Misty and I took my mom to the movies for Mother's Day, and she said she'd see IRON MAN if we sat through BABIES first. Have to admit, I mostly slept through BABIES. Turns out mom only so-so liked BABIES herself. She really loved IRON MAN, as did I. Once again Robert Downey Jr's charm and smarm win the day. Mom says Bruce Wayne would be a lot easier to take if he loosened up and had fun sometime, like Tony Stark. *** Speaking of movies, in about a month the new Toy Story movie will open, and I'll see it and I will most likely like it, and it will make tons of money and probably win the best animated film Oscar, and all that's well and good. Except, except... I have this one nagging problem with the Toy Story movies, and #3 will probably not address it any more than it was addressed in the previous two films before it. In Toy story #1, Woody tells some toys they will have to "break the rules" in order to rescue Buzz. So they come to life in front of the bully kid and throw a big scare into him and that helps rescue Buzz and after a few more twists and turns all ends happily. Except... I keep wondering about those "rules." Who sets the rules? Is there some all powerful toy king or god who has decreed toys can't come to life in front of people? Is this toy god Santa or Geppetto or some other enchanted toymaker? And what are the consequences if toys break these rules and communicate openly with humans? Do Men In Black action figures show up and mindwipe the humans? Are the toys sent to toy prison or melted down or restuffed into other toys? And the biggie, if toys routinely watch their fellow toys being abused and destroyed, why do they not mount a toy rebellion against mankind and take the planet for themselves? There are certainly more of them than there are of us, and I'm sure if a workable alliance could be devised, quite a number of household appliances would join in as well. All the toys need do is capture the kids, hold them in a secure place and demand the surrender of humankind. That's the Toy Story movie I'd like to see. I'm probably the only one, though. *** Here's another pointless thing I'm cranky about. I went to Las Vegas last week and dang it, I really miss those coin-dispensing slot machines. They still have slots, but now they give out tickets instead of coins. Gone is that trilling jingle of the nickel slots paying out, and the rich, heavy "plabb, plabb, plabb" sound of dollar coins hitting the metal tray. There was also that little burst of anxiety in your stomach when you realized there were no dollar coin trays or plastic buckets nearby in which to collect your hoard, and you had to quickly dart over to another machine to get one. And you had to be quick, lest some varmint jumped your claim. Damn, when I hauled a few hundred coins in stacked racks all the way across the casino to the cashier, I had the feeling I really worked for my money. All that latter day gold rush feel is gone. Yeah, the machines are still there, and in most cases more elaborate than ever. I almost broke off and stole the molded figure of Jeannie on her magic carpet off the top of the I Dream of Jeannie machine, I wanted it so much. Our fandom favorites are there too, with Star Wars machines in the shape of R2-D2, and Indiana Jones Sankara stones machines. Just as we when we were kids and teens, Lucasfilm stands by us in our adult years to relieve us of our disposable incomes. *** What else, anything? LOST ends this Sunday. I haven't watched the show much since I stopped working on it around the middle of season two. Still, I'm interested to see what kind of a rabbit they pull out of their hat at the end. I knew what the rabbit was once, it's probably been many rabbits since then. *** Still working on ARKHAM II. That's really all I can say about that. *** Not sure about Comic Con this year. I'll go if we do a TOWER presentation, otherwise I might skip. I have to skip it at least once or twice a decade so I can look forward to it again. *** Oh, and lastly, Misty and I have new podcasts recorded and coming soon. Should have them up on the Dinicartoons site in about a week. Current Mood: pleased |
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