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The Crood Truth December 5, 2013 19:58

The release of this expose a few hours ago will doubtless make the rounds, and it is now only a matter of time before everyone in Hollywood knows the truth - that there was an uncredited writer who came in at one point to help get the movie back on track. We, um, didn’t exactly give him a credit on the finished movie, and didn’t think there’d be problem since he doesn’t have the internet, doesn’t drive, and doesn’t even wear pants - so, how would he ever find out?

Anyway, it’s all out in the open now. So, oh well.


Recording of Smash & Grab song March 22, 2013 11:12

[video will go here]

 

This is a video that gives you a glimpse into the recording of one of my favorite pieces of music for the movie. It's a marching-band inspired number that gives the opening hunt sequence its football vibe. During January of 2013, Alan Silvestri recorded the first half in Abbey Road Studios in London, and the last layer with the USC marching band in California. See if you can hear some quotes from "Tusk"!

 


The Lost Boards part 10 February 6, 2013 15:40

Just a teeny tiny post this morning, as I'm driving back to Los Angeles today.  This moment is in the finished movie - I included it in the blog because of the second panel, into which I included an extra arm and hand.  The intention was to get Eep and Guy tangled, and I just couldn't get enough activity with four hands.  So I added one.  That one extra set made the drawing work, I think, and communicated the intention more clearly to the animators.


The Lost Boards part 9 February 6, 2013 15:20

Here Grug is about to be trampled by a pack of Liotes - a creature that is a combination of Lizards and Coyotes.  Grug is chasing the Liotes, who are in turn chasing a huge flightless bird, who is carrying the egg that Grug wants.  In the midst of the pack, Grug slips.  After being trampled, one of the Liotes lingers for a little payback, then moves on.  Moments later Eep streaks past, easily passing the Liotes and reaching the huge bird.

The Liotes developed a lot of personality in the early boards, which they retain in the finished film.


The Lost Boards part 8 February 5, 2013 11:44

From the beginning, I was clear about my intention of getting at least some of the Croods onto the tusks of a speeding mammoth.  Through diligence and occasionally pretending I didn't hear things, I achieved this goal.  In the finished film the ENTIRE Crood clan is momentarily collected on the front of the runaway beast.  But in this early version it was only Thunk, Grug and Eep.

If you've been following past posts, this is part of the original hunting sequence where Eep wasn't allowed to join in.  You'll notice that the vampire rabbits and tiger come and go - this is due to a revision I made where I added the tiger and rabbits, but didn't have time to convert all the drawings.  In this sequence we were establishing a rather modern situation - that of a son being pressured to follow in his father's footsteps.  Eep knows the truth, that Thunk doesn't want to be a hunter, and is urging him to come clean with their dad.  But every time Thunk turns to Grug he maintains his glowing façade of enthusiasm for hunting.  Grug in turn, is ignoring some big clues that his son isn't exactly "hunting material."

Frustrated by these two lunk-headed men, Eep steps off the mammoth and digs her heels into the ground, bringing the dysfunctional episode to a spectacular finish as the mammoth crashes into a field of exploding cactuses.

I didn't include the crash - too many drawings.  Maybe later.