TOASTMASTERS ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SERIES STORYTELLING MANUAL PROJECT TWO, PART SIX

Larry and the Penguins, Part One
by Paul T. Abramson

Now let’s get to work filling in the details.

I canvassed the job board at the office of IFP/West (Independent Feature Project) looking for something that might jump start a stillborn career when an intriguing flyer caught my eye. A producer was looking for writers to collaborate on a screenplay for an animated feature film. He assured those who read the advertisement that, although there was to be no initial financial payback, this would lead to something huge. There was one minor inconvenience. The producer was in Palm Springs and I was in Los Angeles… without a car. Regardless, it sounded like a worthwhile deal, so my writing partner, Dave, and I decided to look into it. We hoped on a Greyhound bus headed to Palm Springs and met Larry Taylor at his preferred location – Carl’s Jr.

When we got there, I suggested we relocate to a place slightly more professional. We meandered to a neighboring Denny’s. Larry did not want to hold meetings at his residence due to a high number of feline roommates. One could only imagine a truckload of Renuzits not being able to resolve an uncomfortable situation.

Larry was a seasoned man who I had reason to suspect might somehow be related to Popeye. He claimed he could sell an igloo to an Eskimo and told us of his plan to produce an animated feature film he conceived titled “Penguinmania”. He was going to pitch the project to toy manufacturers and finance the film by selling merchandise licensing rights. It was a good idea… on paper, that is.

Penguinmania was indeed toyific.

A group of performing penguins – Sloppy, Oppie, Doubter, Gabby, Pee-Wee and Show Biz – escape from evil Herman Drachmeyer’s zoo. They are befriended by gypsies who help them return to their families at the South Pole. South, Larry! Penguins have no interest in going to the North Pole.

Larry showed us rough, repeat rough, model sheets and artwork. He played a tape of songs that had been written for the film. The songs were impressive. In Larry’s words, an animated movie without songs is like a car without wheels. I agree. He then presented us with a draft of the screenplay by another writer. GASP! Larry needed our help STAT!

Dave and I had a writing routine – get together, brainstorm ideas and take turns at the word processor while the other paced about. The original writer, who was still on board, was not used to this method of working.

To be continued...