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Bluth TV biopic 2:Meeting friends and making Banjo

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BLUTH TAKES SOME PAPER AND A PENCIL AND PAUSES FOR A MOMENT STARING AT THE PAPER. HE SIGHS AND HAS A “WELL BLUTH, THIS IS IT” LOOK ON HIS FACE. THEN HE STARTS SKETCHING AND DOING HIS WORK FILLING IN THE ANIMATION. WE THEN HAVE A TIME SEQUENCE OF HIM WORKING ON DIFFERENT SCENES OF THE MOVIE. WE WILL SKIP OVER HIS COLLEGE YEARS AND THEATER LIFE AS THAT IS NOT ESSENTIAL, BUT WILL POSSIBLY MENTION IT LATER. WE NOW SEE DON WORKING ON THE SWORD IN THE STONE IN 1961, SIX YEARS LATER. THEN WE SEE HIM WORKING ROBIN HOOD IN 1973. DON IS WALKING DOWN HALL WHEN HE SEES FRANK OLLIE WORKING WITH A NEW IN BETWEENER. IT IT GARY GOLDMAN, DON’S FUTURE PARTNER.

BLUTH
Hey Ollie, who’s this?

OLLIE
Hey Don, this here is Gary Goldman. He’s our new in-betweener for Robin Hood.

GOLDMAN
Yeah, just started today. I hope that I’m good.

BLUTH
It’s really easy Gary. Trust me.

GOLDMAN SMILES AND RETURNS TO WORK. BLUTH WALKS OFF TOO. WE LATER CUT TO A LUNCH BREAK WITH GOLDMAN AND BLUTH.

BLUTH
So how did your first day go?
GOLDMAN
Pretty good. Still learning about timing and stuff...but I think that I’m getting the hang of it.

BLUTH
Work isn’t that hard if you have the passion.

GOLDMAN
You also need skill though.

BLUTH
True Gary....very true indeed.

GOLDMAN
We should...get to know each other better. We are gonna be co workers after all.

BLUTH
I agree. Here’s my number.

CUT TO DON BLUTH’S HOUSE. GOLDMAN AND BLUTH ARE EATING SOME BEEF RIBS TOGETHER.

GOLDMAN
Nice ribs Don

BLUTH
Thanks Gary. Most people like pork, but my family and I have always perfered beef for some reason.

GOLDMAN
Hey, I know that “Robin Hood” is almost completed. Do you know what Disney is doing next?

BLUTH
I heard Ron Miller saying something about making another Winnie the pooh movie. I think he said it would be called “Pooh and Tigger something.....” Anyway, I think you should work as an animator on that Gary. You’re pretty good as an in betweener.

GOLDMAN
Oh I don’t know. I only started a few weeks ago.

BLUTH
I’ll help you out. I’ve got a lot of skill. Why don’t we go talk to Miller tomorrow?

GOLDMAN
(UNCERTAIN) Well...okay Don.
BLUTH
Don’t sweat on it Gary. The worst that he can do is say no.

BLUTH IS LATER ALONE IS HIS ROOM  THAT  NIGHT LOOKING THROUGH SOME SKETCHES THAT HE HAS DONE FOR DISNEY. WHILE DOING SO HE FINDS A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER....HE THEN DECIDES JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT TO DRAW SOMETHING ORIGINAL...HE DRAWS A KITTEN...HE THEN STARES AT IT FOR A MOMEMENT...AND SHELVES IT IN HIS BAG FOR FUTURE (IT IS BANJO THE WOODPILE CAT...A PROJECT HE WILL DO IN FUTURE)

WE NOW CUT TO THEN DISNEY  PRESIDENT RON MILLER MEETING WITH BLUTH.

MILLER
I’m not so sure Bluth. You didn’t start as a professional animator right away either. You worked as an inbetweener for...Sleeping Beauty I believe....then after that you...left in 1957 correct?

BLUTH
That’s right sir. I wanted to complete my education, so I attended the Brigham Young University in Utah...(IN DEFENSE) but I still worked as an animator over the summer.

MILLER
Goldman is good for a beginner I will say....however I am a little reluctant about giving him a position that big yet.

BLUTH
I can help him out sir. Will you just try?

MILLER THINKS FOR A MOMENT AND SIGHS

MILLER
Fine. I guess I can let him try on our next project “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too.”
That starts as soon as Robin hood is done. It’ll get him a little more experience that way.

BLUTH
Thank you so much sir! Oh and there’s one more thing I want to discuss. Do you have a minute?

MILLER
I...I guess so. What do you want to discuss?

BLUTH
A new picture pitch!

MILLER
Bluth, you know I like to have appointments for pitches.

BLUTH
I know sir, but it’ll just take a second. Will you hear me out?

MILLER
Make it quick.

BLUTH
It’s called “BANJO THE WOODPILE CAT. It’s about a young cat named BAnjo who always gets into all sorts of mischief and gets in trouble with his dad a lot. After being punished he decides to run away from home to Salt Lake City...but realizes it was a bad idea and must find his way home with the help of a Cat Named Crazy Legs and four singing cats....

MILLER
(NOT IMPRESSED) Hmmm. Sounds an awful lot like our film “The Aristocats”.

BLUTH
No sir! Really, it’s an original story and there’s a bunch of songs that I think you’ll like in it too. You see I got the idea from...

MILLER
Bluth, thanks for your suggestion but it just doesn’t sound like a money maker. Besides, we take suggestions from professional writers, not animators. Now please return to your post.

BLUTH
(Disappointed) Thank you Mr. Miller. (EXITS)

WE LATER SEE BLUTH AND GOLDMAN

GOLDMAN
I can’t believe you convinced Miller to let me be an animator.

BLUTH
(KINDLY BUT STILL SAD FROM THE EXPERIENCE) No sweat Gary.

GOLDMAN
Anything wrong Don?

BLUTH
Oh...I just pitched this other idea for a film to Miller...but he turned me down flat. Apparently animators aren’t good writers.


GOLDMAN
That’s bull man!

BLUTH
(CHUCKLES) Yeah, I agree...you know Gary...maybe we can make it ourselves!

GOLDMAN
Where can we do that?

BLUTH
(THINKS) My garage! It’s perfect! We can use that to sketch, my living room  with the blackout curtains up acan bethe projection room, my family room was the camera room, and...

GOLDMAN
(INTERRUPTING) Don..how can we make a full length animated feature without a bunch of cash, and JUST TWO PEOPLE?!

BLUTH
Maybe not a movie....just a short film....

GOLDMAN
(SKEPTICAL) Don, I really think that we need one more person for this. I’m not sure two people is quite enough..

BLUTH
Well who else is there?

GOLDMAN
We should find somebody...really.

BLUTH NODS.

WE CUT TO DON AND GARY WORKING ON ANIMATING “WINNIE THE POOH AND TIGGER TOO” MILLER IS OBSERVING.

MILLER
Not bad Goldman! I think that you’re good enough to be an animator now after all!

GOLMDAN
(OVERJOYED) Thank you sir! By the way, where are the new background? Don and I need them to continue.

MILLER
Pomeroy is working on them now.

BLUTH
Pomeroy sir?

MILLER
Yeah, he’s the new background artist we hired. Nice guy really. He should be done with them in a day or so. Then you boys can continue. MILLER EXITS.

BLUTH TURNS TO GOLDMAN

GOLDMAN
What is it?

BLUTH
You think that this Pomeroy guy will want to help us make Banjo?

GOLDMAN
How should I know?

BLUTH
Let’s meet him at lunch today and ask.

GOLDMAN
Worth a shot.

CUT  TO BLUTH AND GOLDMAN MEETING POMEROY AT THE COMPANY LUNCH TABLE

POMEROY
Sounds....interesting I guess.

BLUTH
Thanks. The idea came from an experience that I had as a child. When I lived on the farm, we had a woodpile cat that ran away from home and came back a week later....Miller rejected the idea, but maybe the three of us can make it together!

POMEROY
Well...I kinda like the idea...but where can we make the movie? Disney won’t let us make it here since it’s not their movie..and I’m not rich....and assume you guys aren’t either so we can’t afford a studio. Where could we make this?

BLUTH
Elementary my dear John! My garage! It’s big and we can draw everything and you can do the backgrounds. And we have other places around my house to do the other stuff.

POMEROY
Well...okay! Why don’t we start after Robin Hood?
BLUTH
Sounds good.

GOLDMAN
Well, we got paper and ink. But do you either of you guys have a movieola or a camera? I know I don’t.

BLUTH
I got a movieola, but we’re gonna need the camera. We’d better start saving for it.

GOLDMAN AND POMEROY BOTH NOD. THIS LOOKS LIKE A GOOD START FOR THE TRIO!

NOW WE CUT TO BLUTH’S GARAGE A YEAR OR SO LATER. BLUTH DIRECTING POMEROY AND GOLDMAN WHO ARE CARRYING THE MOVIEOLA TO THE TABLE

BLUTH
Easy...easy...(IT GETS SET DOWN PROPERLY) Perfect!

GOLDMAN
Well...all the equipment is ready...so now what?

BLUTH
(A HUGE GRIN) Now...we start writing.

POMEROY
So...you got an outline right?

BLUTH
Of course. We just have to think of dialogue.

GOLDMAN
I’m nervous Don. I’ve...never had an original idea in my life.

BLUTH
(SMILING) There’s always a first time for everything Gary.

THE THREE MUSKATEERS ARE SITTING TOGETHER AT A TABLE WITH A TYPE WRITER. THEY ARE TYPING AND TALKING (UNAUDIABLY) AS MUSIC PLAYS. SOMETIME LATER, THEY ARE EXAMINING IT.

BLUTH
Hmmm...Christmas doesn’t seem to fit the plot too well....and....maybe Rocko the cat should be removed altogether...he seems kinda dark...and unncessary to the story.

POMEROY
Uh...Don?

BLUTH
Yes John?

POMEROY
Who are we going to get to do the voices?

BLUTH FROWNS. HE FORGOT ABOUT THAT!

BLUTH
Hmmm...we’ll worry about that AFTER we finish animating it.

GOLDMAN
Are you insane?! We need to know if we’re going to have any actors for this movie now, or else all our work will be a waste of time....Don....I think we need more people to contribute.

BLUTH SIGHS AND THINKS. CUT TO THE GANG TALKING TO SOME OF DISNEY’S ANIMATORS THE NEXT DAY.

BLUTH
And we really thing it’ll be a fresh film that’ll be super popular with our money well spent! So will you help us finance actors?

MELINDA, A FICTIONALIZED ANIMATOR STEPS IN.

MELINDA
Don....we’re flattered you want us to help you...but we already have jobs. Here at Disney.

BLUTH
What? MAking crap?!

THE CREW GASPS.

TOM
Excuse me?

BLUTH
Look at the films Disney is puting up right now! I mean...do you hear any kids talking about Robin Hood like the kids of the Walt’s time talk aobut Snow White...or Pinocchio?

MELINDA
Well..no.

BLUTH
And...and that Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too movie! Did any of your kids ask to go see that?

TOM
Well....

BLUTH
Don’t you see? Disney just doesn’t care anymore! But I do! If Disney doesn’t want to enlighten the world with animation anymore, than...I do! Now let’s go entertain!

EVERYONE CHEERS...

WE NOW SEEA BUNCH OF ANIMATORS WORKING IN BLUTH’S GARAGE SKETCHING AND DISCUSSING. BLUTH IS OVERSEEING A DRAWING OF BANJO.

BLUTH
Eyes should not be that big Ed.

ED
Yes sir

GOLDMAN THEN ENTERS WITH A BOY NAMED SPARKY MARCUS, AGE NINE.

GOLDMAN
Hey Don!

BLUTH
Hey Gary! Who’s this?

GOLDMAN
This here is Sparky Marcus, I heard him in a few commercials and thought he’d be perfect!

SPARKY
I’m so excited! I’ve never been in a movie before!

BLUTH
(CHUCKLING) Well Sparky, this isn’t a movie exactly. It’s a 27 minute film that we hope to attach to a movie. But you seem perfect for Sparky.

Sparky
So..where’s the recording studio?

BLUTH
You’re in it son. This is where we’re doing everything!

SPARKY
(LOOKING AROUND AND FROWING) In....a garage?

BLUTH
Take a seat kid. It’s time your motivation

CUT TO BLUTH DIRECTING SPARKY WHILE RECORDING...

BLUTH
Now Sparky, I need you to sound more sad when saying “It wasn’t all my fault”, cause you’re suppose to be defensive and feel like your father is not being fair.

SPARKY
(RECORDING BANJO) Well it wasn’t a my fault.

BLUTH
Perfect! Now...

WE NOW SEE BLUTH HAVING A STORYBOARD MEETING AND MENTIONING THINGS...WE SEE SKETCHING AND MOMENTARILY A LINE TEST. NOW WE SEE SCATMAN COTHERS, THE VOICE OF CRAZY LEGS SINGING WITH BANJO WHILE RECORDING A SONG. A FEW OF THE CREW IS PLAYING THE BACKGROUND.

BLUTH LATER WALKING I NTHE PARK. BANJO IS NEARING COMPLETION...BUT HE HAS A LOOK ON HIS FACE. HE SEE A MOTHER WITH TWO BOYS. HE WALKS UP TO HER.

BLUTH
(POLITELY) Hello ma’am.

THE LADY LOOKS UP AT HIM.

LADY
Hello...sir.

BLUTH
You have...some nice kids there.

LADY
Thank you. Boys come meet this nice man.

BOY ONE
Hello sir!

BLUTH
Hello son. May I ask you something?

BOY NODS

BLUTH
Have you or your brother ever seen that new movie...Pete’s Dragon?

BOY ONE SHAKES HEAD.

BLUTH
Really? None of your friends ever...talk about it or anything?

BOY ONE
No sir. I’ve never heard of it.

LADY
What’s this movie? Peter’s Dragon you said.

BLUTH
Pete’s dragon. But...

ANOTEHER LADY WITH A GIRL WALKS TO HIM

LADY 1
Oh hey Tasha.

LADY 2
Hey Lauren. Who’s this?

LADY 1
OH this man here was just asking me if my kids had ever scene this movie called....um...(TURNS TO BLUTH) What was it again.

BLUTH
Pete’s Dragon. Well.....what about the REscuers?

LADY 2
Oh...yeay I think I took my kids to see that...they...enjoyed it okay.

BLUTH
FROWING) Just....okay?

LADY 2
Yeah...we don’t really care much for Disney’s films anymore. They aren’t as good as they once were.

LADY 1
Yeah. So Lauren, did you hear about that new....

BLUTH WALKS AWAY. HE APPARENTLY IS CORRECT: DISNEY ISN’T PUTTING THEIR ALL INTO IT ANYMORE.

WE SEE HIM SITTING IN HIS ROOM LOOKING THROUGH SOME DRAWINGS...and.. HE PULLS OUT THE ORIGINAL SNOW WHITE STICK FIGURE THAT HE DID YEARS AGO. HE LOOKS AT IT...AND SIGHS. THAT WASN’T THE DISNEY THAT KIDS HAVE NOW....HE LOOKS AT A DRAWING OF BANJO. THERE SHOULD BE A COUPLE FLASHES OF THAT AND HIS FACE....HE LOOKS UP. HE KNOWS WHAT HE HAS TO DO. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE PHONE RINGS. HE ANSWERS IT.

BLUTH

Hello? Don Bluth here.

GOLDMAN (ON PHONE)
Hey Don, it’s me Gary. Look we’re in a bit of a pickle. Miller wants us to start working longer hours...and I’m not so sure we’ll be able to finish the film before the deadline...

BLUTH
Gary....I want you and John to meet me at the coffee shop tomorrow at nine. I...have something to tell you.

GOLDMAN
Really? What’s that?

BLUTH
Just...wait and see....
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