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DEFINITE UNCERTAINTY 2021-07 (Jul)

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Sebastian writes...

Hi Greg. I'd like to ask for some career advice.

1. I would love to write for animation. Besides writing as much as possible, what steps should I take that would make me a better writer for this art form?
2. I love animation, but cannot draw nearly good enough for any type of decent storyboarding. Is this something I need to fix in order to write for animation? I'm good at describing what I want to see, but I'm worried not being talented at drawing will hurt my chances.
3. I'm curious on your stance in terms of writing CAMERA ANGLES and TYPES OF SHOTS in the script. Traditionally, I've been taught to leave that to the director as much as possible. How do you tackles this when you write?
4. In action sequences, how detailed do you go? Do you give a general description for the director or an actual play-by-play. For example, is it more: "they trade punches, parrying each other until Clara gets an opening and hits Harry across the face." OR "Clara goes for the uppercut, but Harry leans back and dodges, then attempts to sweep her legs. Clara jumps over the kick, then grabs his shoulders, and head butts her opponent. She makes up for the previous miss with a fist to the face." (Just came up with that, so obviously not the best examples but hopefully that suffices).
4. What should I do to get hired on a show? I know that connections are key, but as someone who has no connections, what's the best thing for me to do? I have a spec of another show and a pilot for an original series. I'd love to be a writer's assistant, but that also comes about through connections. I have occasionally messaged a creator on social media and asked if there was any opportunities on their show, but I know that's hardly a good method to pursue a career. Any guidance on this aspect would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to answer these fan questions.

Greg responds...

1. Sebastian, I'm going to refer you to the ASK GREG Archives on "Writing" and "Writing Tips" and "Biz, The". No offense, but I've answered this basic question so many times, it's kinda pointless for me to right it up again.

2. I can't draw stick figures well.

3. When I began in animation, we used to do much more directing in our scripts, as opposed to live action scripts, where you are advised to stick to Master Shots. Nowadays, we limit that calling of shots and angles, etc., to specific needs, e.g. we need a close-up on that light switch being turned off or a wide shot to reveal who is in the room or a tight close-up on a character's lips turning up into a cruel smile, etc.

4. I go for the specifics, because it expands page count. And page count equates to time. And if you're script is too long, you'll have to cut. So we try to get an accurate sense of time in the script, even if the board artists chose to choreograph the fight a bit differently.

5. Pre-pandemic, my first question would have been, "Where do you live?" And if your answer was anywhere other than Los Angeles, my second question would have been "When are you moving to Los Angeles?" Now, all the old rules are out the window, at least for the time being. I'm not sure what to recommend. Some of the advice in the archives should still be helpful. Otherwise, we're all just going to have to wait and see what happens, post-pandemic - assuming we ever get post-pandemic.

Response recorded on August 05, 2021

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Luke writes...

In "Princes All" when Batman quits the Justice League with a few fellow members, Wonder Woman yells out "Bruce, please!" to the entire room.

1. Does this mean that everyone present (Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Captain Marvel, Red Tornado, Doctor Fate, Plastic Man, Black Lightning, Zatanna, Rocket, Aquaman (Kaldur), Hardware, Katana, Batwoman, Steel, and Miss Martian) was already aware of Batman's secret identity? Or are several Leaguers now just aware of Batman's first name?

Greg responds...

1. They were all aware.

Response recorded on August 05, 2021

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Ben writes...

1. How did you decide on Wyynde for Kaldur's romantic interest? Were you set on it being a former Atlantean purist?
2. I'm curious as to when Kaldur first started to realize when he was attracted to more than just women. Do you picture him struggling with it or was he very open minded about himself from the beginning?
3. When you were writing season 1 and 2, was there a storyline or character you wanted to showcase Kaldur's sexuality with, but couldn't?
4. How did Wyynde and Kaldur meet? Who asked who out? If you're planning on showing this at some point then I get the #NoSpoilers

Greg responds...

1. Brandon and I discussed it, and Wyynde seemed like the right choice.

1a. That was one factor, but not the only one.

2. Brandon and Khary and I have had many discussions about this. We think, generally, that Atlantis is way more open-minded than the surface world. But as for Kaldur's story (and mindset) specifically... NO SPOILERS.

3. Not particularly. We were playing the long game with Kaldur. He was in love with Tula. He and Raquel dated briefly between Seasons One and Two. But it would take time for Kaldur and Wyynde to find each other as a couple.

4. Well, they met at the Conservatory of Sorcery. They were classmates there before Kaldur became Aqualad. As for the details of how they became a couple... again, no spoilers.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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joe writes...

i know it doesnt matter but where was garfield during 3x20

Greg responds...

I'll leave that to your imagination for now. Otherwise, no spoilers.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Anonymous writes...

Hello, Greg.

I want to ask how old is Joan Garrick? You had previously said that she was 88 at the end of Season 1. However, recently at SDCC, you said she was 98, when she died.

Greg responds...

If I said that at SDCC, I misspoke. Joan died at age 95 or 96 - that is, she would have been 96 by the end of Team Year Eight, had she survived that long. I haven't set the actual day and month of her birth.

R.I.P. Joan Williams Garrick.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Tom Cave writes...

How old is Courtney Whitmore?

Greg responds...

At the end of Team Year Nine, Courtney is 16.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Anonymous writes...

Mr. Weisman,

In "Quiet Conversations," we see the Source Wall for the first time in the Young Justice universe. Considering what happened to it in "Dark Knights: Metal," how can it still remain intact on the show?

Greg responds...

We're a different (DC Universe-16) continuity.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Anonymous writes...

In the Young Justice Episode "Coldhearted," Vandal Savage claimed to have a "Reckoning" with the Flash. Since this was said as part of Count Vertigo's plan to distract Wally, Has Savage ever actually fought the Flash before?

Greg responds...

Sure.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Nick writes...

Blown away by this episode, Greg! Great job!

1. How old is Cullen Row?
2. How old is Unnamed-Meta-Teen-A41?
3. How old is Gabrielle Dau's mother?
4. How old is Gabrielle Dau's cousin?

Greg responds...

By the END of TEAM YEAR NINE...

1. Cullen is 13.

2. Delphis is 19.

3. Madia Daou is 35.

4. Samad Daou is 20.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Jon writes...

Hey! So what was that spell Zatanna used to transport Klarion to the Tower of Fate? As in, the non-reversed form of the words? I couldn't catch it.

Greg responds...

"Rehtaf, ediug ym yenruoj hguorht S’etaf Yloh Hkna!"

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Sam writes...

How old is Lia Briggs?

Greg responds...

At the end of Team Year Eight, Lia is 16.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Nick writes...

After Season 2 was over, you confirmed that the designations 27 and 28 were assigned shortly after the season came to a close. We know that there are well over 28 Leaguers by the time we pick up with Season 3, so...

1. Are the characters you intended to give those designations to in 2013 the ones who did end up getting them when you revisited the series canon for Season 3?

If so, 2. Were you always planning for Kaldur to join the Justice League shortly after Season 2 concluded?

Greg responds...

1. Yep.

2. Yep.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Daria writes...

Hello Greg!

I wanted to ask a couple questions!

1) Why did Zatanna choose Artemis as the person to go with her to see her father?
2) How long has Zatanna been in her magician career and weill we ever see it on screen?

Thank you!

Greg responds...

1. They're close friends.

2. Since before her dad became Doctor Fate.

2a. No spoilers.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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kevin writes...

this isn't a question but in nightmare monkeys when gar ask the monkey god why he sound like wally he should of said im no therapist but if i have to guess you never head me talk and you mind came up with a person that you close to

Greg responds...

That's as good an interpretation as any.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Emily The Disney Fan writes...

Hello again Mr. Weisman! I now have a question about Hunter/Robyn Canmore if You Don't Mind!

While Robyn is out with the Redemption Squad, What Exactly Is Her Known Public Statis?

Do the Authorities Think She's Out on Parole?
Do they Think she Escaped and skipped the Country?
Or Do They and the Public Think that Robyn's Still in Jail?

Greg responds...

No spoilers.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Nick writes...

Hi, Greg. Hope you’re well.

Because of some of the issues surrounding the Captain Marvel name, we know that Billy Batson’s alter ego has had to be credited as Shazam in the later seasons, despite being Captain Marvel on Earth-16. Do these name issues affect your ability to be able to use Lieutenant and Sergeant Marvel on Young Justice? Do you purposely stray from the Marvel family so as not to upset pre-established canon?

Greg responds...

The word "Marvel" is currently off-limits to us. This definitely threw us for a loop in Season Three, but we think we've since come up with a rationalization for Cap's name change. So whatever plans we have/had may proceed.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Anonymous writes...

I always admired YJ for its diversity and was very excited to see a character like Halo, someone who's close to my ethnic background, represented.

But I have been utterly disappointed. More than that, I'm disgusted.

The way you guys have graphically killed her several times on screen is appalling. Yes, I realize she comes back, but to see a WOC go through such violent trauma again and again is damaging to audiences - particularly those who are like her. It is a common trope to violently traumatize and kill women and POC in comics and I thought YJ would be above that. Apparently not.

And then to find out that the actual Arab girl has really been dead since episode 1 and she's nothing but an empty husk for the motherbox...so she's not actual representation at all. She's not a real person.

I was one of the fans who rallied for YJ to return for years and now I will never support this show again. This honestly broke my heart a little.

Glad you got to feel progressive for using a woman in a hijab. I'm sure you're patting yourself on the back for it and won't actually care how people of that background feel.

Greg responds...

I'm truly sorry that the character doesn't work for you.

I wish you'd continue to give us a chance throughout the end of Season Three and into Season Four. By July 24th, 2019, Halo's story was far from over. We probably did overdo it on the violent deaths. But the long-term plan was to show a girl (of color) who went from being a victim to a hero. I think we ultimately succeeded in that, but if it didn't/doesn't work for you, I understand.

As for Gabrielle being dead... well, that was built into the character Halo that we adapted.

But again, her story isn't over. And her hijab wasn't an arbitrary or cynical choice. In fact, the only thing in your post that seems unfair to me is your presumption that we were patting ourselves on the back in some cynical manner. We do care. We may fail. But that doesn't mean we're not trying. We've been working with the Muslim Public Affairs Council on Halo's character and others. They seem pretty happy with where we're taking the character long term. Maybe we didn't get there fast enough for you. But, again, I'd love for you to give us and Halo a second chance.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Kate writes...

In young justice outsiders episode 19 it is said that beast boy is a emancipation minor . Why did his stepdad Steve Dayton let Garfield become a emancipation minor ?

Greg responds...

Gar sued to become an emancipated minor. We don't know whether or not Dayton fought him on this, but if he did, he clearly lost the case.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Sailor writes...

Greg, what are Traci Thruston/Thirteen powers do they only cause bad luck or does she have greater mystical abilities?

Greg responds...

I think what you see on the show speaks for itself.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Paul writes...

By the time that you see this question, season 4 will probably have concluded, but I'll take my chances. I love Young Justice - thank you so much for this amazing show!

I have a few questions about "Elder Wisdom", which has just been released on DC Universe:

1) Is Troia an Amazon by birth or is she from man's world? She bears a strong resemblance to Wonder Woman and she referenced Hippolyta ("Mother") so I'm guessing that the former is true, but I wonder if you could confirm this now that she has had a prominent appearance in Young Justice, please.

2a) Does Troia have the alias Donna Troy in Young Justice?
2b) Has she *ever* had this alias on Earth-16? Troia is quite an unusual name so I wonder whether it stems directly from the name Donna Troy somehow, even on Earth-16.

3) We've only ever seen Garth in one outfit, even when he was Tempest in the Young Justice: Legacy game. Likewise, we've only seen one look for Troia at this stage, but is it also her costume from her time as a member of the Team?

4) I hope it's all right if I ask this question as well, please: do you still have plans to include Mary Bromfield in Young Justice? I know that you've said that you wanted to introduce both her and Troia in season 2, so that's why I'm asking about Mary even though this is a spoiler request. I hope that Mary will still get her due, whether it's in the final stretch of season 3 or in season 4. Hoping for some Marvel/Shazam Family love at some point in Young Justice.

Thank you so much for reading my submission! :)

Greg responds...

Well, Season Four hasn't dropped as of this writing, though we do have fourteen episodes in the can, seven more in post-production and five being animated overseas, with all pre-production complete.

1. No spoilers.

2. As of Season Three she isn't using the name Donna Troy. No spoilers as to whether she ever did.

3. No spoilers.

4. It's not a spoiler to say that we still want to include her when it makes sense to.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Lonewolf writes...

You've always said that when adapting a character you like to make sure you stick to their core identity and values. What about Halo is sticking to her core character, since the Earth-16 version isn't really like the comics version.

Greg responds...

To our thinking, our Halo is just like the comic version in every significant way. What seems different to you, beyond the obvious of her being Quraci and the fact that we exchanged her Gabrielle Doe/Daou and Violet Harper names?

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Algae writes...

Hey Greg,

Not really a question, just wanted to congratulate you and Brandon on getting SEASON 4 of YOUNG JUSTICE green-lighted. The show keeps going from strength to strength!

Gratitude

Greg responds...

Thanks, Algae. Gratitude backatcha.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Anonymous writes...

Was there always some kind of attraction between Will and Artemis? Or is the attraction between them from seeing their lost partners in the other?

Greg responds...

I'll leave that to each fan's interpretation.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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A pleased fan writes...

Not so much a question, but a congratulations on Young Justice Season 4. Season 3 is, so far, absolutely fantastic. I can't wait for Season 4

Greg responds...

Thanks. Hopefully, you patiently finished Season Three first. ;)

Response recorded on July 28, 2021

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Chloe writes...

I'm confused, it the future world of Bart's was erased, how come he, from that world, still exists? Shouldn't he have disappeared too if it was changed? Because his new future self now exists in the one he created. Or is he living on borrowed time and eventually his meddling with time will catch up to him? I'm just so confused about his whole time situation.

2. And if nothing happens, and he somehow survives to see himself born, how is that going to work? Is he going to die right upon conception, or upon birth? Or screw up and prevent his birth? This is just so bizzare.

Greg responds...

Chronoton radiation made him immune to the changes. Eventually, a new Bart will/should be born. But our Bart might live to see that - live and HOPE that this new Bart never becomes him. But if you're asking whether they can co-exist, they can.

Response recorded on July 28, 2021


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