Yesterday, I posited that we wouldn’t see any of the strip’s promised action. Well, I guess Tom Batiuk sure showed me! Though I, in turn, would like him to explain Chullo’s remark. How many graduations has he been to, exactly?
I sure hope Mr. Director Man–whose name I do not believe we’ve been given–is prepared to shoot this scene over and over again. If you want a crowd of people running in terror, you don’t want your extras looking like they’re having a fun time. Kinda undercuts what you’re trying to achieve. So for take two, Mr. Director Man, you should tell the crowd to look frightened.
Technically, though, you’re not allowed to talk to the extras, Mr. Director Man. That’s the job of the assistant director; in fact, if a director “directs” an extra–even something like “Hey, you! Get off the set!”–that extra now moves up to become a paid player. Yet another thing to add to the “Tom Batiuk knows nothing about how movies are made” column.
This 24/7/365 Starbuck Jones obsession clearly shows that Tom Batiuk has lost all interest in both of his comic strips. I don’t know why he continues with Funky Winkerbean or Crankshaft–the paycheck, I guess, and the chance to win an award for longevity. There certainly have not been any stories that engaged him that don’t involve Starbuck Jones. The “senior trip” thing recently was an embarrassment, something he felt he had to get out of the way so he could get back to Starbuck Jones. Before that, it was a week of Wedgeman’s class ring. Obviously stuff that a “high school strip” needs, but interesting to no one.
The problem is, as I’ve mentioned before, Tom Batiuk is self-aware enough to know that he doesn’t have the talent to do Starbuck Jones. This is why we’ve never seen Starbuck Jones doing anything in the strip, other than “appearing.” When he had the vintage serial arc, we saw practically nothing of the film but we sure had a lot of people jabbering over it. When a comic book cover is required, someone else draws it. Tom Batiuk has written or drawn nothing of significance regarding Starbuck Jones.
So, aware that if he tried it, he would ruin it, I imagine Tom Batiuk would hire people to write and draw Starbuck Jones. Oh, he would be the editorial supervisor, and make suggestions and create new characters and so forth. In other words–
He would be Brady Wentworth.
Given Mr. Batiuk’s record on wrapping things up quickly, well…I haven’t seen tomorrow’s entry, but it would not surprise me one bit if it’s something like this–
Bear in mind, this is one day after filming in a high school auditorium. Yes, it’s unlikely, but…can you prove that it won’t happen?
That’s it from me, folks! Tune in tomorrow when the fantastic Epicus Doomus takes the center seat. Back to the funway, which is already in progress!
Son of Stuck Funky 