The Law and Authors: Jane Friedman Interviews Jacqui Lipton
Courtesy of the 2021 Virginia Festival of the Book, publishing expert Jane Friedman talks about the law and authors with law professor, consultant and agent Jacqueline Liptom of the Red Quill Agency, posted by Virginia Humanities, March 14, 2021. Abstract: In Law and Authors: A Legal Handbook for Writers, Lipton addresses issues of copyright, explaining fair use and public domain; trademark and branding concerns; laws that impact the ways authors might use social media and marketing promotions; and privacy and defamation questions writers may face.
The Passing of Cliff Simon
Today I learned some tragic news from a tweet by Joseph Mallozzi, executive producer from Stargate SG-1 (among other shows).
“Incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of the wonderful Cliff Simon.”
Terrible news. And what a loss.
Cliff Simon, an actor and athlete hailing from South Africa, played the recurring role of Ba’al, a villain in the Stargate SG-1 series. He was a marvelous performer, virtually stealing the scenes in which he appeared.
I’d like to commemorate his talent by posting my favorite scene from Stargate SG-1 Season 8, episode 16:
Joseph Mallozzi’s remembrance, here.
Gateworld obituary here.
Cliff Simon’s website.
Raya and the Last Dragon: An Ancient Story with Modern Lingo
In Martin Goodman’s review of Raya and the Last Dragon at Animation Scoop, he makes the observation,
This movie is set in some mishmash of ancient East Asia and the time is not contemporary to ours (I didn’t see any modern architecture, weapons, iPhones, or any vehicles save for what looks to be a giant rolling pangolin), but too much of the dialogue is in 2021 lingo, lending a bizarre tonal contrast to the visuals. One of the worst offenders is Sisu; Awkwafina’s performance is truly fine, but her lines diminish the character; she might as well be playing herself. Maybe Disney does this to chum up to the older kids and tweens; I for one hate it.
A good point. Is it really worth spending so much time, money and effort to depict ancient civilizations to service the story, so audiences can lose themselves in this marvelous past, only to blow this illusion with hip dialog?
Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits notes,
When the film introduces its characters—and the terrific vocal talent here begins to establish itself—the story quickly picks up steam. Unfortunately, that momentum grinds to a halt again briefly when Sisu and Boun (the latter voiced by Izaac Wang) appear, because their dialogue is presented in a contemporary, improvisational style that feels completely out of place with the rest of the film. Clearly, the producers were trying to capture a bit of that old ‘Robin Williams in Aladdin’ magic, but that approach is very hit-or-miss.
The character of Raya, it seems, was influenced by Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. All right, let’s compare with Miyazaki’s oeuvre–Spirited Away, Laputa, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle. What’s the difference? No hipspeak.
Disney filmmakers may claim reverence for Miyazaki’s works, even superficially borrow some elements, but fail to apply his storytelling ethic.
Here’s an Honest Trailer that also references “2010s banter” (3:40):
Note the “timeless” dialog in the following clip:
“We were doing a jumpy thing.” “My bad.” “I get it, now.” “I’m with it.”
https://youtu.be/4IyRqlBcyeM
Coming This April: THE ANIMATED VOICE, Volume Three!
More voice actor interviews are coming your way in The Animated Voice, Volume Three. ISBN 978-1-68390-307-9. To be released: April 1, 2021.
UPDATE, January 15, 2022: The book is now out of print. A revised and expanded edition will be forthcoming.
LINDA SIMENSKY, Head of Content, PBS Kids, provides the Foreword for this insightful volume.
NICHOLAS BRIGGS, Executive Producer and Director at Big Finish Productions in the UK, as well as the voice behind the Daleks and Cybermen and many others in modern-day Doctor Who, onscreen and on audio books.
ANDREA ROMANO, legendary voice and casting director whose career spans over three decades and eight Emmy Awards, with credits ranging from The Smurfs to Batman: The Animated Series to Voltron: Legendary Defender.
The definitive voice of Batman and Bruce Wayne, KEVIN CONROY, and the voice of Dick Grayson and Nightwing, LOREN LESTER.
TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE voiceover veterans Michael Bell, Paul Eiding, Dan Gilvezan, Alan Oppenheimer, and Gregg Berger and of course, Peter Cullen and, in an extensive interview, Frank Welker.
A topical section discusses the value of actors, and whether it’s better for the cast to record individually or as an ensemble. Observations are provided by producers Nicholas Briggs, Phil Lollar (Adventures in Odyssey), and the late Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League Unlimited); directors Steve Anderson (Meet the Robinsons), David Bowers (Flushed Away), Ash Brannon and Chris Buck (Surf’s Up), Jill Culton (Open Season), Eric Darnell (Madagascar), Mark Dindal (Chicken Little), Pete Docter (Up, Inside Out, Soul), Sam Fell (Flushed Away), Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai), Tim Johnson (Over the Hedge), Rob Letterman (Monsters vs. Aliens), Mark Osborne and John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda), Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens); voice directors Mark Evanier and Andrea Romano; and actors Kevin Conroy (Batman), Donald Faison (Hype Fazon, Star Wars Resistance), Mark Hamill (The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series; skekTek the Scientist in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), Mari Iijima (Lynn Minmay, Super Dimension Fortress Macross), Katie Leigh (Connie, Adventures in Odyssey), Suzie McGrath (Tam from Star Wars Resistance), Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live; Louie, DuckTales, and Orka, Star Wars Resistance), Patton Oswalt (Remy from Ratatouille), Monica Rial (Bulma from Dragon Ball Super), Lou Romano (Linguini, Ratatouille), Will Ryan (Eugene, Adventures in Odyssey), Seán Schemmel (adult Goku from Dragon Ball Super), Keith Scott (Bullwinkle J. Moose), Christopher Sean (Kazuda Xiono, Star Wars Resistance), Peter Sohn (Emile, Ratatouille), Arnold Stang (Top Cat), Kiefer Sutherland (General Warren R. Monger, Monsters vs. Aliens), and Frank Welker (Transformers’ Megatron and many other voices).
David Duchovny’s Best Writing Advice
From Literary Hub, “David Duchovny: I Tackle Writer’s Block From Behind; A Conversation with the Author of Truly Like Lightning,” February 8, 2021:
David Duchovny: Best writing advice was couched in the best movie making advice I ever got. A director friend of mine came to a screening of something I’d directed and wrote and he said, “people go to the movies to care about something. They make plans, they make dates, they pay babysitters and leave their homes and get in their cars—all because they want to care about something. Your job is to give them something to care about in the first five minutes. Doesn’t have to be a big deal, could be anything—will the old lady make it across the street, will the kid get an A on his paper, will the alien get back home. Give them something to care about in the first few minutes or you’ll lose them and no matter what, you won’t be able to get them back. You broke the contract. They came out to care and you broke the contract.” I think it’s exactly the same for writers. Just substitute 20 pages for 5 minutes, give them something to care about right away.
Click here for the entire interview.
