How to Craft a Story Into IP
Make your dreams come true!
Taking a big dream and making it a reality doesn’t happen overnight. Writers, Directors, Producers, Plumbers, Bartenders and artists all have that ONE BIG IDEA. Maybe it’s a feature film or a series or a podcast… but how the heck are you going to make something as EPIC as the vision in your head?
This week I wanted to focus on how to crafting an IP, following my own journey on Weirdos.
Weirdos is about Middle School Monster Hunters who are their town’s only chance to survive a Monster Invasion. It’s an Animated Series for ages 7 & up.
Where do you start?
Time is your most valuable asset. Use it wisely. This is a marathon, not a sprint. So start small. I started with the story. I would knock out a draft of a script within a few weeks, then dedicated at least 90 minutes every week to get my script revised. The creative industry is all about collaboration, so working with Concept Artist Shane Murray, and having him create the fantastic puppet designs was clutch! We talk, we strategize, he draws, we talk, he revises.
A stop-motion puppet is more than a doll. It’s a complex armature skeleton that needs to be posed, positioned as the characters run, leap, dance, fight and fly. So it needs to stand up to high stress. The puppet itself needs to have a strong silhouette, and charismatic appeal to convey the wide range of emotions for our story. We clay sculpted, then 3D printed heads so that we could add replaceable mouths during animation.
Collaboration is King…with Casting
The characters in Weirdos are living in a world where myths have come to life, presenting real dangers with real stakes. Producing and Directing in Los Angeles for over a decade has given me the opportunity to work with so many talented Actors. Nathan Ondracek was cast for the character of Owen Worthingsworth and he brings a genuine sincerity, anxiety and bravery to the character. Writer/Director Kenny Young brought Actress Denise Garcia to the studio. She did an impromptu voiceover audition and she nailed the part of Jasmine Bonkers.
As an indie producer, think: what are my resources? How can I create what I want without going into crippling debt? For Weirdos we shot for 4 weeks on multiple animation stages. Our Cinematographer Gavin Brown (Del Torro’s Pinnochio, Tiny Chef, and sooo many more) was able to capture the comedy, mood and action with motion controlled camera movements and DMX-controlled lighting setups. Together with Gaffer Jesse Lee, they created a colorful cucoloris.
Our Post-Production Journey
The Post Production process was complex. Our Animators took thousands of photographs and the VFX Team seamlessly blended them together with the help of separate lighting and clean passes to remove rigging. Sound Designer Justin Voegelin brought to the table a strong and immersive soundscape. But what really makes Weirdos stand out is the custom score from Composer David Kelly (Paw Patrol, Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood).
Time to show our work!
We chose the Film Festival route and have been thrilled to have Weirdos screen for worldwide audiences. Festivals have been an excellent way to network, meet with distributors, and even investors for an episodic animated series.
But none of those conversations could even happen…
Without a script.
Without a short film.
Without an audience ready to escape into a world of monsters and mischief.
No one goes the distance alone. Together, we are a creative force!
Nathan and I chat about the Weirdos on the inaugural episode of our Weekly Podcast. Check it out here!
