Orlando Sentinel: What happened to the "'Tugger" Film?

[urgaffel]

Damn that's a horrible fate for a little startup studio... Feel sorry for all the people investing in what ultimately was a dream :sad:

Just goes to show that even though someone may have nearly 30 years of experience that doesn't mean they have the wits (or morals?) to do the right thing...

[beaker]

Just goes to show that even though someone may have nearly 30 years of experience that doesn't mean they have the wits (or morals?) to do the right thing...Naw, it just shows that artists need to know more then just art to run a business. People need to either get a partner that knows business or take business classes themselves. Producers are a necessary evil.

[PhantomDesign]

Yea, artists aren't nessecarly the best buisness men. If you start a studio, you don't nessecarly have to know a lot about buisness, just hire someone who does. Delegation is a wonderful thing.

[BillSpradlin]

Yea, artists aren't nessecarly the best buisness men. If you start a studio, you don't nessecarly have to know a lot about buisness, just hire someone who does. Delegation is a wonderful thing.

I think that's one of the gravest mistakes artists make when starting their own studios, not knowing enough about business and hiring someone who "does". Veggietales is a perfect example of how something can turn down a very bad road very quickly, even with so called "business executives" running the show.

[switchblade327]

I think that's one of the gravest mistakes artists make when starting their own studios, not knowing enough about business and hiring someone who "does". Veggietales is a perfect example of how something can turn down a very bad road very quickly, even with so called "business executives" running the show.

What did happen with Veggie Tales, out of curiosity?

[Wes_Brown]

What did happen with Veggie Tales, out of curiosity?

You used to be able to read a VERY VERY sad 20 page explanation right from the horse's mouth at Phill Vicher's website. (He was the creator.) I think he has taken it down though...

It told EVERYTHING and it was a really heartbreaking read.

[Paul-Angelo]

Just in case anyone is curious I posted a thread about this back in 2004 not knowing about all the drama behind the scenes. A bunch of the people who were involved in this production posted about the nightmares they faced working long hours and not being paid. It's an interesting read.

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=154941&page=1&highlight=Tugger


I can't believe how this movie was ever finished. They even ripped off Jim Belushi! There should be a T.V. movie made about all the shenagins that went on.

[switchblade327]

I didn't make it through the whole thread but holy crap! It never ceases to amaze me how low some people will stoop just to make a buck.

[ivanisavich]

I can't remember who it was......but there was a member here a while back who posted some of the stuff he had done using those characters (ie...he was an animator on the film and had posted some tests or something....can't remember exactly).

I'd be curious to know if he's still around here, and/or what his experience and side of the story is.

[Wes_Brown]

I can't remember who it was......but there was a member here a while back who posted some of the stuff he had done using those characters (ie...he was an animator on the film and had posted some tests or something....can't remember exactly).

I'd be curious to know if he's still around here, and/or what his experience and side of the story is.

There are several of them on here! (I am NOT one of them. I was kindly asked to be a part of it but it smelled VERY fishy from the moment I walked in the door.)

[kevinw]

I can't remember who it was......but there was a member here a while back who posted some of the stuff he had done using those characters (ie...he was an animator on the film and had posted some tests or something....can't remember exactly).

I'd be curious to know if he's still around here, and/or what his experience and side of the story is.

I think you might be referring to me... and if not.. here's my two cents anyway.

I think between the newspaper article and the older cgtalk thread, everyone has pretty much covered horrific details of the working conditions, mismanagement and personal attacks. I can only assure you that the picture that's been painted of Jeffrey and that place is true and accurate.

It was a nightmare for most of the time I was there. But I did get a chance to work with some extremely talented artists and I learned A LOT!!! Had it not been for horrible management and misconduct, I think tugger could have been a decent little movie.

There were more than a few Disney guys working there at various times but inevitably, they all moved on to more stable studios or started their own thing. And the rest of the crew was made up of younger, more ambitious talent, who was willing to put up with more than a fair amout of BS to work on a feature film. And then when push came to shove, most of the crew was thrown away like an emtpty diet coke bottle. Sad times indeed.

Eventually, investors stepped in and funded the studio to finish the movie. Those of us that were left (6 of us or so) mangaged to piece together what we could of the film in an effort to finish it, get it on the shelves and get money coming into the studio. And then everyone who was owed money would get it back from the sales. At least that's what we were told.

I guess the bigger plan was to farm out all of the lighting and rendering to a studio oversees. With no art direction mind you. And as frames came back poorly lit and horribly comp'ed... we cut them in the movie and threw lots of 2d effects over them to try and hide the errors..

BTW A program called Particle Illusion is the BEST turd-polisher I've ever seen. We covered up alot of crap and pulled off a bunch of 2D smoke/dust/debris effects in very short amount of time...

In the final weeks of production we put in close to hundred hour work weeks and pulled multiple all-nighters to finish on the all important deadline. AND THEN.... to add insult to injury the ENTIRE FILM! was dubbed over with new voice talent, most of which was much worse than our original audio.

I guess I'm mostly bitter (in terms of the production) about the voices because, as an animator, I spent hours upon hours animating based on a certain feeling and performance... to throw all that away and put in a completely new voice for every character (often times way different than the original) lowered the overall value of the film 1000% (again that's just my opinion) And I know it's done in other animated movies but that's not an excuse.. It still sucks.

BTW if any of you have ever heard the original voice for Tugger. (done by a local voice actor/stunt man in Orlando) That is and always will be Tugger to me.

Anyway, we finished the movie and sat back while we watched deal after deal be blown and ultimately Tugger never got off the ground. An ungodly amount of money was spent on a premeire party that we didn't need. Complete with 3 Jumbo trons, a Jim Belushi concert and a fireworks show.. All paid for by Genesis (or charged by i should say) A couple week later.. no paychecks.

I got out of there when I could and I'm in a much better place now. Physically and mentally.

Anywho.. that's my side of it... Yeah I could call Jeff a bunch of names and tear him up on the threads.. but he's had so much bad press and been hated for so long by so many people that I know for a fact it would roll right of his back. He's used to it. And frankly it's not worth the effort.

I'll let karma take it from here.

[RobKazFL]

Amen Kev, I think you nailed it with that post. I spent some time with that reporter, and was rather upset that my only quote sounded somewhat like I thought highly of Jeff. (I never learned a thing from him other than he has a big credit list on IMDB, and he is literally color blind) I didn't agree to the interview to gripe or try to inflict revenge. I did it to try to make sure he couldn't hurt anyone else. I love this industry but this ordeal has made me very cautious and much more gunshy.

I only ask that anyone who reads these articles not judge the artists who participated. I've never met a better group of people who were so dedicated to art and the person sitting at the next workstation that they would continue working. All in spite of no pay for weeks and months on end, an endless cycle of lies from the man, atrocious working conditions (no a/c, ants, ancient workstations, etc.), and uneccessarily long hours. The guys at the end with me truly fell on a grenade to get that film done. Luckily I still get to work with a few of the guys and I hope the rest of you are much better than the last time we saw each other!

...Please pass the word on this guy, he's always trying to ensare new people to work on his next project "messiah".

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