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Anonymous writes...

(1)He isn't my favorite but by far one of the coolest, for lack of a better word. (2)How active of a part are you taking in the Gathering? (3)Since Gargs seems to be "Dead and dust" what was the future supposed to have in store
for Coldstone Desdemona/Coldfire and that annoying rustbucket, cliche-ing Coldsteel. (4) Why live action for the movie? Why not a animated feature, with the quality of work from eps such as 'Shadows of the Past' 'M.I.A.' and 'High Noon' (Three of my favorite episodes, for exceptional animation and storyline)? (5) Which leads me to my next question: Why was the animation quality of some eps better than others, ie 'High Noon': with it's superbly drawn and well rendered graphics, compared to Metamorphosis: with it's awkward movements and seemingly lowscale animation, and slightly less interesting storyline? (6) This is my personal biased opinion but almost always cartoons or animated shows/features etc. that turn to live action are inadequate by comparison. That is unless you pull some CGI graphic, Jurassic Park quality effects for the gargs. It just seems that the animation end of Gargoyles is so much more enticing than Live action. And it also seems that it [Animation] has much more to offer. Please surprise me with how incredible this movie will be just so you can tell me..."I told you so."

Greg responds...

(Numbers have been added to your comments/questions to make my life easier.) 1. Who?
2. I've been asked to attend, and if we can work out the details, I'll be there.
3. Lots of interesting stories that you just wouldn't be able to get enough of.
4. No one offered to make an animated feature. But the guys at Touchstone were interested in making a live-action movie. Who am I to say no?
Actually, no one. I have no control over what Disney does with the property.
5. You've raised two different points. Animation was done at a number of different studios. Our best work was done by Walt Disney Japan's in-house teams. Second best work was done by other Japanese units. Third best by KoKo in Korea. That was all great stuff. The rest ranged from O.K. down to poor. Your second point was about storylines, but I think it's interesting that you credit better animated episodes with having more interesting storylines. You're not alone, I've noticed in general that fans of the show seem to like the stories of better animated episodes and dislike the stories of poorly animated episodes. My guess is that at least to some extent, the animation is creating a bias negative or positive. The reason I feel that way is because, with the exception of the multi-parters, I never knew which studio an episode was going to go to when creating our stories. I never knew whether it was going to get great animation like "The Mirror",
"Future Tense" or "M.I.A." or whether it was going to get lousy or mediocre animation like "Monsters" or "Vendettas". We wrote the best 66 episodes we could. I find it hard to believe that the best stories just coincidentally happened to go to the best studios. Some stories certainly turned out better than others, but evidence suggests that animation quality had a larger subliminal effect on which stories people liked than anyone realizes.
6. First off, I don't have a lot (read any) control over this situation. I hope the live action movie is great. They are planning to use some CGI, although I don't think even they know how much yet. But mostly, I'm not worried about the look. Hollywood movies invariably look great. I'm hoping for a good story that is faithful to the spirit of the GARGOYLES property, if not the details.

Anonymous writes...

Can we trust close-captioning to interpret hard to hear dialogue?

Greg responds...

Good question, Greg. NO, YOU CAN'T. It's probably right most of the time, but as far as I know no one involved with the show approved the close captioning, and I know of at least a couple of examples where it was dead wrong. Particularly on the spelling of names. That suggests to me that whoever wrote the captions didn't even have access to the scripts. I'm guessing he or she simply listened to the episodes and wrote down what they heard (or thought they heard). That means the "guesswork" known as close captioning has no more authority than what your own ears reveal. If you have any specific questions about dialogue or name spelling, don't check the captioning. Ask Greg.

Anonymous writes...

Hi there! Please, once and for all: How the heck do you spell the name of that building? You know, the one that Xanatos owns, with the castle on the top?

Greg responds...

I think I've answered this but it's faster to type it in again then it is to check: EYRIE BUILDING. (I think Michael Reaves came up with that name.)

Anonymous writes...

Two questions this time and a 'thank you for your time': 1. In "MIA" Griff looks at Goliath and guesses he is of "Scotish stock". Such a comment seems to imply that Griff has seen Scotish gargoyles. Are there surviving gargoyles in Scotland or does the English clan have some very well preserved thousand year old pictures? 2.'Time passes differently on Avalon' is that always or was an 'hour for every day' spell placed over the island to avoid the damages of a 1000 years of neglect? [I know there are myths of time passing differently on Avalon, but I thought those were to explain the longevity of the third race. In Gargoyles Oberon's Children do not seem to have aged noticably in a milenia.] Thank you

Greg responds...

1. Hee hee hee.
2. Always.

Anonymous writes...

Greg, you stated that the ratings went from good, to not-so-good to bad. I write a column on television for my school newspaper and if you could provide me with those numbers (neilsons) I would really apreciate it. Thanks

Greg responds...

Sorry, but I didn't save that info. It must be on file somewhere, so why don't you try writing a polite, typed and carefully proofread letter to Nielson. (And no, I don't know their address, but a good reporter should be able to find it. :))

Anonymous writes...

You stated at one point that Demona and Xanatos were intoduced by Puck/Owen. What was the reason for the introduction?

Greg responds...

Mutual self-interest.

Anonymous writes...

(1) I'm known in the comment room as Xanatos so you can call me that. (2) So the Illuminati funded the Quarrymen eh. Why? (3) Is Demona Brooklyn's mate?
Since the Future Tense episode, and the fact that you want to keep it a secret I'm begining to think she is. Plus she's the one no one would suspect. (4) I heard that you were going to be at the '97 Gathering, is it true? If so than I can't wait to meet you. I live in NY. I lve your show and am looking forward to the movie. I was relieved when I found out it would be about Goliath. I'm boring you now so good bye.

Greg responds...

1. Hey, Xanatos. I'd rather call you Greg, but I'll respect your wishes.
I added numbers to your questions to make this easier to read. No other editing. Hope you don't mind.
2. The Illuminati had their reasons.
3. No.
4. "Beth Maza" and I are trying to work out the details for me to be there.
We don't have it nailed down yet, so I don't want to make any promises. But we're trying, and it looks likely. Hopefully, I'll see you there.

Anonymous writes...

Greg, I am re-sending the questions again via. this route as you requested: 1) Which story writer was responsible for the introduction of Shakespearean characters into the story plot and what motivated the decision? 2) Why was the ending in "Vows" changed? In the first version Goliath embraced Demona in front of the clock tower scene and then broke the Phoenix Gate. In the second version, the clock tower background is replaced by a castle window. The animation in the second version seems to be done by Nelvana. Why was this done? Did the clock tower background symbolize that Demona and Goliath's vows of love were "now and forever?" I noticed the ending changed right after Hunter?s Moon aired for the first time. Did the writers decide to alter the ending of "Vows" now that the end was no longer valid now that Goliath loves Elisa? 3) In the episode called "The Mirror" Puck shows an image of Goliath in the mirror to Demona and says, "So after all these
years, you still carry a torch for him." What did he mean by this? Does Demona still love Goliath deep down, or was Puck just playing mental games with her? 4) Why were the Weird Sisters named after moons. Did it have to do with Shakespeare's love with the topic in his works? 5) In City of Stone, the Weird Sisters are in front of a TV store and say to one another, "So, it begins again..." What begins again? Are they referring to the Gathering or to Demona and MacBeth? 6) In the series, the show seems to focus on Goliath and Demona's relationship. Later in the second season Demona begins to show some signs of repentance. The show seems to suggest that they were going to be re-united (The fact that Angela is their daughter) and then all of a sudden in Hunters Moon, Goliath chooses Elisa as his mate. Did the writers originally plan for the re-uniting of Goliath and Demona in the beginning and changed their minds later on, or was the Elisa/Goliath relationship planned from the start?
7) In The Goliath Chronicles, Goliath advises against any dealings Demona and shuns anyone idea of befriending her, but in "The Reckoning" he praises Demona sacrifice and states that it was an act of "good." Why did he change his mind all of a sudden? 8) What are the plans for the character Demona if there is a new season? Will Goliath, Demona and Angela become a family? Is the Elisa/Goliath relationship going to end? If not, why didn't The Goliath Chronicles portray it more? Was it executive pressure?

Greg responds...

1. Most (though not all) of the Shakespeare was me. Beginning with Macbeth. We were looking for an immortal Scottish hunter. Macbeth had the name recognition. It felt like the kind of thing Stan Lee would have done in the early sixties at Marvel. Plus I love Shakespeare. The other things flowed from that rather smoothly. The Weird Sisters were obvious. Puck, Oberon and Titania likewise. Marty Isenberg & Bob Skir, the writers on "Legion" created an Othello/ Desdemona/Iago/Cassio set up (with Goliath in the Cassio role). I'm still not 100% sure if Marty and Bob did that on purpose, because per our rules, none of the other characters were named in their original outline for the story. In order to relieve some of the stress on our all-too-human brains, I suggested the Shakespearean names for internal use in order to keep all the characters straight. With more episodes, we would have included more Shakespearean characters. But I think that covers it for now.
2. NO. NO. NO. First off, Nelvana did none of the animation on the first two seasons. (Frankly, they didn't do any animation production for the third season either. They just handled pre-production.) The original background in front of the clock tower was a mistake. A MISTAKE. It was supposed to be a flashback to the moment when Demona first broke the gate and gave her piece to Goliath at the castle. A wistful memory. The mistake with the clock tower background came in too late to fix in time for the first airing. Maybe too late for the second too, I can't remember. But eventually, we got the correct background back from overseas and cut it in. Our intent never changed. Pragmatic realities dictated the two versions you saw. Sorry if that's disappointing.
3. Both.
4. There is a tradition of triple goddesses connected to the phases of the moon. It seemed to me that the Weird Sisters fit that tradition.
5. Demona and Macbeth. And the Archmage.
6. Elisa/Goliath from the start, and we never wavered. Demona's journey to some kind of redemption is another subplot, (if possible an even slower one then Goliath and Elisa's journey to finding each other). Sometimes, these subplots are going to intersect. But again, our intent remained constant.
7. I can't answer any questions about any Goliath Chronicle episodes except for "The Journey". Didn't work on them.
8. Again, I had little to do with Goliath Chronicles. But I doubt there was any executive pressure. Your questions suggest a clear bias toward wanting Goliath and Demona to reunite. All I can say is it wouldn't happen if the show was under my watch. As far as I was concerned we put any real chance of that to rest with "Vows". Someday, Goliath and Demona might have eventually reached some kind of detante. But Goliath's destiny is with Elisa. IMHO.

Anonymous writes...

Dear Greg: First off, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. I wonder how many people would continue to promote interest in a project that's no longer providing them with employment, and we are all very appreciative of your comments. RE questions: 1. In MIA it seems Griff and Una were romantically involved in the 40's. Are they still romantically involved? Did Una get together with Leo? I love the British gargs. 2. Do the names of the Japanese gargs (Kai, Yama, Sora) have special meanings in English, and what are they? 3. Do the Illuminati in Gargoyles have any connection to the real historical Bavarian ILluminati of the 1700's? 4. Is there a reason Malibu's arm shield has the Maltese Cross of Germany on it? 5. Would there ever have been a cure for the mutates?
6. WOuld the child of Ophelia and Gabriel have been in the Future Tense series? 7. Someday, when you feel like rambling, Brooklyn and Lex's mates and the fifth member of the Ultra-Pack would be interesting to hear about.
:-) also, if Hudson would ever have found some company... I respect your freedom not to answer any of the above questions, and thank you again for taking the time to talk to us.

Greg responds...

1. Griff and Leo were involved in the 40s, but by the 90s Una and Leo were mates.
2. Yes. Yama means "the Mountain". Gary Sperling told me what all the names mean, but I don't remember the others. Sorry.
3. Sure.
4. Not that I know of.
5. Not really.
6. Probably.
7. You're welcome.

Anonymous writes...

How would I get involved in writing for an animated series? Or any TV series for that meatter.

Greg responds...

First and foremost, you write. Then write some more. Then do a little writing. Read a lot. Write some more. Read some more. Read a lot. Write a lot. Study story structure. Study great literature. Study myth and legends. Joseph Campbell. Listen to how people talk. How they really talk. Learn your craft. Get a kick-ass education. Write. Read. Write.
Get copies of animation (or other television) scripts. Learn the format.
Write spec scripts for shows that you like. Try to use those specs to get an agent. Then your agent can use those specs to get you work. Write more specs. If you can't get an agent, send the specs to production companies that you admire. Don't send a Batman spec to Warner Bros or a Gargoyles to Disney. Legally, they can't risk reading those. But you can send Batman to Disney and Gargoyles to Warners. (I know it sounds weird. There's a real good reason for this, but it's a whole other question, so for now just trust me.) Actually, you shouldn't be writing a Gargoyles spec at all, since that show isn't producing new episodes now. You don't want your spec to come off as yesterday's news. Keep reading. Keep writing. Try writing a pilot script and a short bible for an original series. Try using those to get an agent or work (any work, you need credits on your resume.) Oh, yeah.
PROOFREAD. PROOFREAD. PROOFREAD. Read your own work aloud, you catch more mistakes that way. Read. Write. Write some more. Get used to a lot of rejection. A LOT OF REJECTION.
That's the best advice I can give you except this: writing for television is an extremely difficult career to break into, let alone succeed at; so if you don't really have a PASSION for it, then do something else. You'll need that passion to see you through a lot of dark times. If you can be happy doing anything else, then do that other thing. Otherwise, good luck.

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