Smiling Friends - Ep.8 “Frowning Friends” (Spec Storyboard)
As part of my application for Storyboard Artist on Smiling Friends, I boarded the start of Episode 8, which I had never seen before when I made this. The board is based off of a transcript I found on the Smiling Friends wiki. (FYI: This is not part of an NDA!)
Güd & the Gang
It’s Day 949 of Endless Summer with Güd & the Gang! When Güd finds some freaky little weird creatures in the woods, he summons his best buds, Jim T. and Retty over to see them. Güd has the brilliant idea to make them race - the grand prize: a coveted basket of berries.
Note: This animatic is a work in progress! This first cut was created from scratch in a week. Please check back soon to get the full adventure!
Nobody Needs Any Of This
A sample of storyboards from my forthcoming original animated short, Nobody Needs Any Of This. The entire storyboard is 27 pages and was created in about a week.
EST. "Future Shoppe"
Title over sky. '2006. Anywhere, North America'. Clouds drift by in the background.
EST. A large gold-framed photo of 'Mr. Future' hangs above the entrance of the store.
Denise stands in front of a wall of TVs, tapping her foot impatiently. Jerry stares ahead, mesmerized by something.
(Denise) How about this one, Jerry? It's 40% off.
Denise reaches up to grab the remote.
(Denise) Says the buttons even glow in the dark.
We see what Jerry is staring at - a massive gold TV.
Jerry's eyes are glued to the TV. (Jerry) Don't you think glow in the dark is a little 1999, Denise?
An arm comes from O/S, nonchalantly coming to rest on Jerry's shoulder. (Voice) Breathtaking, isn't it? 50 inches of modern marvel...
The camera pulls out, revealing a young Future Shoppe employee, Fillmore. (Fillmore): Rumour has it they got the plasma from the Roswell crash...
Jerry blinks a few times, snapping out of his trance. He turns to look at the snake charmer at his side.
Jerry turns back to the TV, staring with greater desire.
Predator and prey admire the shiny TV. (SFX) Otherworldly sounds emit from the TV.
Denise turns around, holding a pamphlet. She looks up to address Jerry, who is nowhere to be seen. (Denise) Honey, this one's appar-
(Denise) ...Jerry?
ORDER?
ORDER?
ORDER?
Todd rises up beside Brie with binoculars of his own. (Todd) Impossible. Mr. Future explicitly stated that the anchor's sole purpose-
Brie lowers her binoculars and turns to Todd. (Brie) -is to make the other TVs look cheaper, I know. We've all seen the video. But Mr. Future also said that if you see it, sell it-
Brie looks back down her binoculars. (Brie) -and Fillmore's got that look in his eye.
We see Brie's POV. Fillmore is still working his magic on Jerry.
Fillmore seems to have an idea.
He disappears behind the TV, rummaging around for something.
Fillmore emerges, wielding a giant remote. Jerry is unable to contain his excitement. (Todd) Whoa... Maybe you're right... Kid's in the zone. (Brie) Uhhh... Todd. 9 o'clock.
The binocular POV whip-pans to the left.
Whip-pan continues.
Whip-pan continues. A point of interest appears.
The camera hard zooms. Todd's POV locks onto Denise, who is marching down an aisle towards Jerry. (Todd) Brie, who's that?
She looks MAD. (Todd) She looks peeved! You never mentioned a naysayer!
We whip-pan to the right. (Brie) I dunno!-
A smear of Jerry enters the frame. (Brie) I thought he-
We lock onto Jerry, who has now noticed Denise and is pertrified. (Brie) -was alone!
Todd looks over at Brie, a little mad that she had gotten his hopes up.
Denise scolds Jerry like a misbehaved puppy.
We see Jerry begin pantomiming a UFO crash. (Todd) What the...
(Todd) The hell is this guy doing?!
Denise isn't having it. Jerry drops to his knees, begging in desperation. (Todd) She's... He's... C'mon- Don't!
Denise tells Jerry to leave. (Todd) Noooooo!
Todd throws a tantrum, spiking his binoculars into the ground. They explode into a million pieces. (Todd) Goddamnit!!
Brie turns back to the tense scene. She notices a glimpse of hope. (Brie) Wait!... It's not over!
We're now alone with Denise and Fillmore. Denise takes a composing breath.
Denise turns to address Fillmore. He's fixing his hair in the TVs reflection. (Denise) I - uh... while I'm sure it's a great deal...
(Denise) I don't think we really need-
Fillmore, one step ahead, interrupts her. (Fillmore) Nobody needs any of this...
(Fillmore) But don't you think-
Fillmore glides out of the way, revealing Denise's reflection in the TV. (Fillmore) -you deserve it?
Denise is taken aback.
Todd and Brie look on in awe, sharing the remaining pair of binoculars.
A weepy Jerry looks up, a sense of hope is in the air.
Denise concedes a smile.
She blushes.
We cut to a rusty old pipe spilling out a handful of coins.
A hand reaches into frame and scoops some of the coins up. (Brie) Then she like-
It's Brie's. She tosses her hands into the air. (Brie) -goes ballistic!
She thrusts a finger at Todd. (Brie) He thought the sale was D.O.A.-
(Brie) But I told him!
(Brie) Didn't I tell you, Todd?
(Brie) Said you had that freaky look in your eye. (SFX) A louding beeping sound starts up. (Robotic Voice) Now Serving.
We see a digital screen displaying Fillmore's name under a plaque that says "Commission Collection". We see a bulge form in the rusty pipe. (Robotic Voice) Fillmore D. Now Serving. Fillmore D.
We track the bulge as it travels down the pipe.
The bulge swells at the end of the pipe, making it shake violently with the growing pressure.
It erupts. A landslide of coins spew out of the pipe, hitting in the metal trough with a klang-a-lang-lang.
Fillmore drops to his knees. His expression is that of complete awe.
Fillmore leans in, entranced.
(Fillmore) Looks like dinner's on me!
EST. West Side Luigi's Bar & Grill. (Singing Voices) Word on the street is it's your birthday, tell me is it true!
A group of servers crowd around the Future Shoppe employees, who are seated at a booth. (Servers + Brie + Todd) Little birdy told me it's your birthday, just how old are you?!
(Servers + Brie + Todd) One?! Two? Three?! Four?! Five?!
From Fillmore's POV, the scene becomes terrifying. Suddenly, the servers sound demonic. (Server 1) Siiiix?!
(Server 2) Sevvenn?!
(Server 3) Eiiight?!
(Brie) Niiinne?!
(Todd) Tennn?!
The group crowds around, waiting with bated breath for Fillmore's response.
(Fillmore) Ahh... it's...
(Fillmore) not... my birthday?
The Servers gasp in horror.
Todd begs the Servers to overlook this gross deception. (Todd) No, no, keeping singing! It's still a special occasion! He sold the anchor! It's never been done!
Brie and Fillmore look at Todd. Silence.
Todd looks at his coworkers, visibly displeased.
They all crack up.
The moment is immortalized in a polaroid snapshot. A cheesy upbeat song kicks in. Montage.
The sales team slouch in their seats, plump from gorging on a massive meatball.
Fillmore slaps his belly in satisfaction. (Fillmore) Oo baby, I feel goo-oo-oo-oo-ood.
Todd slaps his belly in agreement. (Todd) Better soak it up, kid! This is gonna go down as the best day of your life!
Fillmore abruptly turns to Todd. (Fillmore) Of my life?...
Brie emphatically slaps her belly.
(Brie) Of OUR LIVES!!
Todd begins rolling his fingers on the table, becoming a little weird. (Todd) No siree...
(Todd) Can't let a moment like this pass you by!...
Todd breathes in as he raises his hand to slap his belly once more.
His hand absentmindedly comes down with a limp 'pat' as he exhales.
(Todd) The sale of a lifetime is just that, Fill...
(Todd) Once in a lifetime.
(Fillmore) Wha...
(Brie) But the-
Brie inadvertently belches.
(Brie) -the memory lives on FOREVER!!
(Fillmore) Uhhh... (Todd O/S) Y'know... I'm proud-
(Todd) -of you, kid.
(Todd) Always knew you had potential-
(Todd) But this...
Todd catches his emotions in his throat. His lip quivers.
(Todd) This is...
Todd turns away abruptly. He was definitely about to cry.
Brie raises her glass. (Brie) Let's have a toast!
(Brie) To reaching our peak!
Todd wipes away the tears welling on his eyelids.
He musters some good spirit and raises his glass to meet hers.
(Todd + Brie) TO REACHING OUR PEAK!
The camera slowly zooms in on Fillmore's eyes as he automatically raises his glass to his coworkers. A high pitched sound is growing, almost like a bomb went off beside his ear. We can hear the phrase echoed over and over - "To reaching our peak".
Through muffled perception, we hear Todd and Brie giggling and muttering celebratory snippets. The same phrase echoes - "To reaching our peak".
"To reaching our peak".
