KAITLYNN: What is your nickname and/or your production company name?

BISHOP:  “Production Company name is 10,000 Cases.” (Kaitlynn: His name is Bikeshop in the chat and Bishop in the forum.)

KAITLYNN: What is your role in HTG?

BISHOP: “Producer, Critic, sometimes Studio Head, always attention whore.”

KAITLYNN: When did you join HTG and how did you find it?

BISHOP: “Teufel led me here like, 10 years ago or so. Maybe 9. I wrote my first movie in 2003, released in January 2004.”

KAITLYNN: What was your favorite project to work on?

BISHOP: “Until 5 and the Until 5 Adventure movies. Those are just blast.”

KAITLYNN: From the members, who have gone away or gone inactive over the time, who do you miss most?

BISHOP: “Mattricks and his entourage were a blast to have around. I’d like Mark Chua to play full time so we could trade punches more often. And JGraham, weirdly enough.”

KAITLYNN: Who is your favorite/least favorite member in HTG? (You may choose which one you name.)

BISHOP: “Mac is my favorite and least favorite player. The following link explains why. For the purposes of this example — I am Seanbaby, Mac is Godek.

KAITLYNN: What was your favorite movie (you may not choose one of your own)?

BISHOP: “In the game? Well, my problem is that I recognize a good movie, like Obsession or Metal Hearts, for its goodness. But they may not be my favorite since they leave you feeling like your soul is a bowl of cat pee. I really enjoyed Print and Beibo Suncloud. Also Crocodile 5, although it most definitely does not deserve the 100/100 I gave it at the time.”

KAITLYNN: What are you currently working on?

BISHOP: “I’m taking a semi-break after finishing off Speak Like a Child. But next up is Batman: Die Laughing. I also am working on an Aquaman movie. Original ideas — Way Out Where, a story I pitched in 2005. And another one I thought up today and threatened to write a few months back.”

KAITLYNN: If newbies need help, could they come to you? (*wink wink*)

BISHOP: “Sure, I love newbies.” (Kaitlynn: Take care, Newbies. It’s a trap!)

KAITLYNN: If there is anything you could change about HTG, what would it be?

BISHOP: “It’s kind of experiencing a renaissance with the new players and returning players. I did not spell that word right   (Editor’s Note: I edited renaissance, so at time of being published, it was spelled right) . The game has improved a ton. All we need is a few more critics, a few more news sites, a few more players, and we’re Gold.”  (Kaitlynn: I could correct it, but nah )

KAITLYNN: So do you think HTG has a future?

BISHOP: “Oh yeah. As long as people keep writing, I think it’ll keep going.”

KAITLYNN: Are you playing other simulations or games at all?

BISHOP: “Nope.”

KAITLYNN: Whom should I interview next?

BISHOP: “Marlowe. Let’s throw the old codger a bone.”

KAITLYNN: What is your nickname and/or your production company name?

TORAN: “I’m usually called Toran but every once and awhile I’m called Little T. My production company is simply named Toran Productions.”

KAITLYNN: What is your role in HTG?

TORAN: “I’m the studio head of I’m An Astronaut FIlms, and a humble producer. I use to review a lot as well and slowly getting back into that.”

KAITLYNN: When did you join HTG and how did you find it?

TORAN: “I joined about six years ago surprisingly, all the way back in October 06. So a little less than six, but almost there.”

KAITLYNN: What was your favorite project to work on?

TORAN: “So far, either Halloween or Splatter. Halloween because we had a unique class and it was fun to take someone else’s universe into my hands and change it the way I please. But I think Splatter beats it out a bit because it too had an amazing cast. Also that entire film was a blast with all the chase scenes, kills, etc that was put into it. It was my own original material.”

KAITLYNN: From the members, who have gone away or gone inactive over the time, who do you miss most?

TORAN: “There have been tons of members to go inactive over time. Hand, Newman, Mattricks, DCE, mbroderick who still posts occasionally but is likely to never really play the game again. Mac was gone for awhile too but it seems like he’s back for sure, who knows. Out of them all I definitely miss Misio and Phae. They were some of our more wacky members, who produced good material despite not necessarily being loved by the critics. Also DCE, because he was one of the veterans and it is always sad to see one of them leave.”

KAITLYNN: Who is your favorite/least favorite member in HTG? (You may choose which one you name.)

TORAN: “One of my favorite members? That’s a tough one. Quantum probably beats everyone out just because we have some awesome conversations and are really supportive of each other. CzarTim is also up there just because he’s hilarious when he does decide to talk, same with Bishop. But I think Quantum wins just because of the friendship we have. To be honest I can’t put down a least favorite, because all the people I dislike kind of remain on the same level, and even then it isn’t that I don’t like them. We just don’t connect personally, but they still are apart of the community and the family here.”

KAITLYNN: What was your favorite movie (you may not choose one of your own)?

TORAN: “That is a very hard question to answer. There’s a lot of great flicks to choose some. Like Bishop’s awesome Batman saga, to Q’s great breakout piece, Sandman. I was also a huge fan of Lucian’s The Bomb. Also Marlowe has put out some great pieces like Hardwick or Crucified. But to top them all, I’m definitely probably going to vote Lucian’s Fourth Wall. It was simple, yet so effective and funny. It was one of the first things I read here too, so that counts for something as well.”

KAITLYNN: What are you currently working on?

TORAN: “Right now I’m putting finishing touches up on Bad Hare. A horror comedy about a mutated rabbit that has been unleashed on a small farming community. It’s up to a small boy and a bounty hunter to stop the beast, meanwhile keeping a step ahead of the FBI and simultaneously developing a father-son bond. It is pretty packed. Also working on season two of Desperate Screenwriters and Wolfgang & Zombie. Adapting the popular video game franchise Duke Nukem as well.”

KAITLYNN: If newbies need help, could they come to you? (*wink wink*)

TORAN: “Yeah no doubt. I’ve been here for quite awhile, reviewed plenty of films, produce and cast tons as well. Now I’ve moved on to an expanding studio and have grown to know pretty much everyone in this community pretty well. So I’d definitely share any knowledge to the newbs.”

KAITLYNN: If there is anything you could change about HTG, what would it be?

TORAN: “There’s lots of things that I would change about HTG, but the one I think I would tinker with most, is the activity of the place. We definitely need more members and this would be a way better community and a whole lot more fun. Since we’ve got such a small population everyone gets comfortable and a few key players take charge, while others just sit back and chat.”

KAITLYNN: Do you think HTG has a future?

TORAN: “Yes definitely. As long as people are willing to stick around and produce great stuff, this board will definitely keep going.”

KAITLYNN: Are you playing other simulations or games at all?

TORAN: “No. I use to play some writing roleplaying games, like Batman related ones. I did attempt to join TMG, which is now Virtual Hollywood just for the fun of it. But I’ve never dug another simulation site like HTG.”

KAITLYNN: Whom should I interview next?

TORAN: “I definitely think Quantum or CzarTim. I’d definitely like to see if CT is producing more stuff after his series Thorn, like some more John Cabot or original material?”

KAITLYNN: So which one?

TORAN: “CzarTim, if you can get him.” (Kaitlynn: Of course, I can. *swings her lightsaber*)

What is the Newbie Guide? When I first found Hollywood the Game I really found it all cool and well, but I failed to find any kind of real and useful newbie help. It took a lot of guessing and bugging people in the chat room to figure it out and still now I do not understand most of it. So for now I am sticking to the role of a writer and how to get started in HTG.

How do I start? (Note: If you do not want to write scripts, but instead be a journalist/critic: Go directly to step 7 or 8.)

Well, that one is easy:

1. Register on the homepage and in the forum.
   .
2. Think about what you want to write: original/franchise, big movie (15 pages+)/arthouse movie (usually 10-15 pages) or a TV movie/TV series.
   .
   A) You want to do a movie/TV project about an existing franchise? Alright, but the possibility that this franchise is owned by some studio head (or another producer) is very likely. So first of all check the franchise list.
   .
   B) The franchise is not owned? Then look here.
   .
   C) The franchise you want to write about is neither owned nor on that list? Then post the franchise (with a Wikipedia link for reference) and ask about how much it would cost in this section of the forum.
   .
3. You have decided on writing an original idea or a franchise? Now you need a cast. Actors and Actresses that have been used before are listed on the HTGmdb (along with all of the past movies, TV shows, and information such as box office and trivia). Of course you can any actor there is, even if he or she is not in the database, provided they are still alive in real life.
   .
4. Okay, so you have an idea for the movie and a cast, are maybe even finished with the script and want to release your movie? For that you will need a studio boss willing to release your movie. I strongly advise you not to start as a studio head yourself since it is much easier to learn the rope by going through the process of releasing a movie with someone who is experienced with it. A list of the current studios can be found here. However, I think you should not contact them via the emails provided there, but post your idea along with your thoughts about who should be cast (studio bosses do not have to agree on your cast!) in this section of the forum. Now, wait for someone to contact you or post their interest in this thread you opened. If there is no respond in some days, it would be wise to come into the chat and talk to the people there or contact me directly and I will try to help you finding a studio.
   .
5. You have sent your script to the studio boss. What will happen now? Give the studio boss some time to read it. He will also probably want to edit it or get someone to edit it. You should try to work closely together with him on that. He might want some changes. If you do not want to edit your own script again, there are also people who can be hired for that. During this time the studio boss will also estimate how much the movie will cost and launch an ad campaign. This is actually also the perfect time for you to already start working on something new.
   .
6. My movie is about to be released. Can I as a writer do anything for it to be more successful in the cinemas? Yes, you can. In the first week after your release every active member of this game is allowed to Buzz-vote. You can vote from 1-10 for your movie and others. This determines how much the movie is anticipated. In the second week there is the normal vote. Here you vote how much you liked it (You can also give your own movie the 10 points). Both averages of those votes enter into a formula and out of this it is calculated how much your movie does. Box offices can then be found here.
   .
   So only the votes determine how successful my movie is? No, also the star value of your cast. If you watch one of the pages of an actor/an actress they have a number under their pictures. This indicated how prominent this person is in our world. This also greatly differs from the real world. You choose up to four actors (usually the prominent and/or the actors that have the biggest roles) that are taken into account as well. (They are marked for each film in the HTGMDB)
   .
7. You do not want to write script, but be a critic? You can find the Critic Corner here. If you want to write a review about a movie, I advise you to read some of the existing reviews to get a feeling for how long they should be and what they should include. Also please stick to the existing rating system. To submit your first review, email it to HollywoodTheGame@gmail.com. This will get you added into the Critic’s database.  Later reviews you’ll use this link.
   .
   If you have any further questions on being a critic, feel free to join the chat and ask there.
   .
8. You do not want to write a script, but be a journalist? Basically you have four possibilities to release your articles at the moment. The first would be the HTG Town blog, which can be found here. You can email articles for the blog to Marlowe.
   .
   The second is Blueothello’s own independent news project, the HTG Enquirer. Talk to Blueothello directly for how to submit articles.
   .
   Third are articles on the actual homepage (like this one), aka The Hollywood Times. These articles have to be submitted to the HTG Admin Email at HollywoodTheGame@gmail.com. RS is the EIC.
   .
   Fourth would be to create your own kind of blog/newspaper. If you need help with that, just join the chat and ask there.

That is all for now. I’ll be continuing this column weekly with new tips and help for newbies from a newbie. I hope this guide is at least a bit helpful!

Rogue Net has announced that they have picked up two new television shows, while another series has been given the red slip. The two shows being picked up are Life in NY from newcomer unbb24 and Monster from Drejr24 (Hybrid) while the show being canceled is Within the Lyrics. The decisions came as Rogue Net prepares its lineup for session 12 which is rumored to launch in late February.

Life in NY is a new comedy from rookie producer unbb24. It is a traditional sitcom in the Friends and Seinfeld school of thought. The series itself follows book salesman Archie Jones who, along with his best friend Jerry and sister Hatty, navigate life in the big apple as they search for love, success, and happiness. The series is set to star Jason Biggs (Pizza Tycoon), Eric Christian Olsen (The Mac Show), Lea Michele (The Infected), Ernie Hudson (Horror City), Danny McBride (On Set), and Brett Butler in his HTG debut. Currently, the series has been given an unprecedented 12 episode order with rumors stating that nine episodes are already in the can and/or currently filming.

Monster is a new drama series from drejr24, which is based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa. The series, which was quietly pitched and picked up over the last week, is keeping the details of what exactly it is about mum except for the fact that it follows a doctor who becomes tired with the politics at his hospital and soon gets caught up in a mystery. The series is being described as ER meets American Horror Story. The pilot is being filmed currently and has a cast that includes Will Estes (Super), who is set to play the lead doctor, Michael Ealy (The Crazies), Devon Sawa (Marty Robbins’ Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs), Chris Pratt (HTG debut), Bryce Dallas Howard (unlucky), Richard Schiff (Print), Amy Walton (Picnic Time), and Chase Wright Vanek (Lurking Shadow). The series will have a four episode debut season.

While two shows gear up for production, another one has had to shut down. The series in question has been the in-limbo musical drama Within the Lyrics. The series, which was on hiatus last session, has finally been put out of its misery. The decision to end the series was mutual on both the producer, Drejr, and the network’s parts. The cast has been notified and they are available for regular series parts on other shows. The cast included Bryan Batt, Elijah Kelly, Willow Smith, Kristen Chenoweth, Nina Dobrev, Chandra Wilson, Diana Agron, Macy Gray, Sara Ramirez, and Baz Luhrmann.

Look out for Life in NY and Monster when the series premiere during session 12.

Patrick Warburton joins us for a brief conversation on his new film, Billy.

TIMES: Welcome Patrick.

PATRICK: Hi.

TIMES: Thank you for agreeing to meet with us today.

PATRICK: No problem.

TIMES: You voiced The Tick for four seasons on FBTV.

PATRICK: Yep.

TIMES: Now you are working with Lucian again.

PATRICK: Yeah.

TIMES: What’s that like?

PATRICK: Cool.

TIMES: You’re third billed in the film, behind Jennifer Tilly. That must sting a little.

PATRICK: Not really.

TIMES: The film is arthouse. Do you worry about losing TS?

PATRICK: Whatever.

TIMES: According to Lucian this film is about a zany parent teacher interview.

PATRICK: That’s right.

TIMES: And you play the father?

PATRICK: Yes.

TIMES: You don’t seem to be giving very lengthy answers.

PATRICK: Sorry.

TIMES: Well, thanks for being here.

PATRICK: It gave me great pleasure. It’s always good to have a chance to get your message out. Little films like this are important for keeping the theaters alive. I’ve owed Lucian a favor for years and FBTV kept forgetting to call it in on The Tick. But I had fun doing it and I hope the audience finds it fun too. I understand it will be two arthouse films going head-to-head that weekend. One from a brand new producer and one from the richest player in the game. Will Lucian’s experience and ad budget give him the win? Or could he be upset like he was with Transformers: Another Man’s Treasure, which is wrong on the box office update thread. I think this film will be successful if people see it, whether it makes money, regardless if it helps or hurts talent scores. Sure we could have saved this for a TV movie but if you plan to blow three talent vouchers you get a lot more bang for your buck releasing to theaters. The risk is greater too. This film won’t be completely free. It could make money. But with fines in place for talent losing TS it gets more complicated. The film needs to make 80 million domestic to satisfy
Bill Cosby. That’s a tall order for an arthouse film released in January. In the end, whatever happens – happens. I’d rather people see it and hate it than skip it altogether.

TIMES: Now you suddenly become verbose?!

PATRICK: Sorry.

TIMES: Billy opens January 27, it’s produced by Ship of Fooles and distributed by I’m An Astronaut Films. Critic pre-screenings are available beginning January 13.