Grievance Gulch
by Jim Hodgson
Jim Hodgson
Follow
Grievance Gulch
by Jim Hodgson
Jim Hodgson
Follow
Dusty boots. Itchy trigger fingers. Yodeled apologies. One town fights for survival in the old west as its lethal denizens reckon with honor, self loathing, and social responsibility. They might be deadly, but they're trying to be a society. This is Grievance Gulch.
Dusty boots. Itchy trigger fingers. Yodeled apologies. One town fights for survival in the old west as its lethal denizens reckon with honor, self loathing, and social responsibility. They might be deadly, but they're trying to be a society. This is Grievance Gulch.
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Story
Mission Statement
We're a group of COVID-displaced comedy writers who came together online over the last year. We've had a lot of fun working together and, arguably, also helped each other stay reasonably sane. Now we're ready to strike out on our own with a new home-grown animated show: Grievance Gulch.About The Project
In the dying days of the old west, change is coming. Statehood. Respectability. And worse: law enforcement. But there just might be one way to survive.
What if the last of the gunslingers put their grudges aside, joined up, and formed their own town? Sure, it'll be rough going. But if they can focus on the greater good, if they can just stop bickering and arguing about who killed who, they might have a slim chance in Grievance Gulch.
Watch Our Show Pilot Here
Something Pretty Crazy Happened During COVID
My second full-length play had just opened. One of my comedy shows had just had a sold out show, and I had some promising private gigs on the calendar. It wasn't what you'd call fame or fortune but things were looking up, comedy-wise. I don't have to tell you what came next.
I knew I needed to keep busy. So, I announced to my comedy writing group, The Scene Shop, that we'd be getting together on video three times a week to write. Anyone who wanted to come have a laugh was welcome. We wrote jokes, sketches, web series... you name it. I didn't care. I just wanted to be with other writers making work.
On one of the sketch streams, though, something happened. Of course the point was always to have a laugh, but we wrote a sketch together that felt unbelievable. Magical, even. That sketch is now the pilot of this show: The Good, the Bad, and the Sensitive.
Incidentally, we still get together to write jokes every Friday on our Twitch stream: http://twitch.tv/sceneshop
There's No Way I'm Going To Let This Moment Pass
I feel absolutely kicked in the gut by the friends I've lost this year, and all the chaos we've seen. This project is like a space laser of joy, shooting through all that ugly goop.
I love this project so much and I'm passionate about exploring it as a full series with this team. Although it would be easier if COVID wasn't happening, this thing came to us during COVID and we know how to make it all remotely. The writer's room will be on our Discord. We'll use voice actors who can work remotely. And the finished product will be a streamable series.
Even though I can't wait to go back to comedy shows like I used to do, I feel strongly that we have to make this project now, before this moment is gone.
Here's what we will do once we're funded
1. Casting. I love the pilot but I am not an actor. I am a writer and a director. The first step once we're funded will be to find some actors who like the look of the project but feel they can take it even farther.
Since everyone's stuck at home at the moment, I'm hopeful our budget will be able to net us some truly skilled folks.
2. Write Five Episodes. This will be the fun part for us. You might be surprised how little of a working writer's life is actually writing the work. We can't wait to get started.
3. Table reads. We will most likely do a table read of each episode once it's done so there's an opportunity for the acting team to add their spice. I'm a big believer in the concept of using the best idea no matter the source.
4. Record Voices. Simple as that. We'll get everyone's lines recorded and edited together more or less where they will go in the final edit.
5. Sound Design. This is where the magic really starts to come together, which is why we need the budget to get a proper wizard.
6. Final Edits. The last tiny tweaks that make all the difference. This will be the part where we have to let our baby stand on its own two feet. It's hard. VERY hard. But we can't tweak forever.
7. Party. At home, yes. Responsibly, of course. But party.
Let's Ride!
This is a crazy time for everyone. And we might be insane for attempting it during COVID. But when the magic comes, what do you do?
Well, I want to grab it by the snout, leapfrog over its head, end up in the saddle, possibly facing the wrong direction. I'm not sure how to get on a horse, honestly, but we'll find out together.
Get on your horse (however you do it). Join up with our crew. Let's ride for Grievance Gulch!
Incentives
$10
The Sheriff Is Calling You Out
We can never thank you enough for your support, but we will add your name and a few heinous crimes to a personalized wanted poster, on all our social media accounts. We'll also make a digital version of the poster available to you. We will need your name and the image you'd like to use if you want a personalized image (optional, but cool).
$25
Shout-Out at the OK Corral
You will be thanked, by name, by one of our characters, in a short animated video on all our socials, plus thanks in the credits of the show. We'll make the video available to you in case you want to post it yourself or just treasure it forever.
$100
Dang But I am Sick of this Benjamin
At this level you will get yourself a wanted poster AND a video thank you just like the previous two levels only this way we will take that tired old cuss Benjamin Franklin right off your hands. If you want to support the project in a big way without getting too crazy, this level is just for you, partner.
$250
Draw First, Then Fire
We will add a character in the show with your name. There is a significant possibility that person will meet an inglorious end. But who knows? They might win the lottery, or get elected to high office. More than likely, though, they'll just get blown to bits. We'll need a photo of you and your name. You'll be thanked in the credits as well as on all socials.
Claimed: 4 of 10
$500
All Hat and Some Cattle: AP Credit
You will be thanked as an associate producer on one episode of the show in the show's credits, plus be personally thanked by a member of the show's cast. You will also be credited similarly on IMDB plus receive copious thank yous on all socials.
Claimed: 4 of 10
$2,500
Series Executive Producer
You'll rocket to the top of the industry heap as an Executive Producer in our series credits, on IMDB, and, most importantly, in our hearts. You can even give us notes, if you want. We might not listen, but you can give them!
Claimed: 1 of 20
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
The Sheriff Is Calling You Out
We can never thank you enough for your support, but we will add your name and a few heinous crimes to a personalized wanted poster, on all our social media accounts. We'll also make a digital version of the poster available to you. We will need your name and the image you'd like to use if you want a personalized image (optional, but cool).
$25
Shout-Out at the OK Corral
You will be thanked, by name, by one of our characters, in a short animated video on all our socials, plus thanks in the credits of the show. We'll make the video available to you in case you want to post it yourself or just treasure it forever.
$100
Dang But I am Sick of this Benjamin
At this level you will get yourself a wanted poster AND a video thank you just like the previous two levels only this way we will take that tired old cuss Benjamin Franklin right off your hands. If you want to support the project in a big way without getting too crazy, this level is just for you, partner.
$250
Draw First, Then Fire
We will add a character in the show with your name. There is a significant possibility that person will meet an inglorious end. But who knows? They might win the lottery, or get elected to high office. More than likely, though, they'll just get blown to bits. We'll need a photo of you and your name. You'll be thanked in the credits as well as on all socials.
Claimed: 4 of 10
$500
All Hat and Some Cattle: AP Credit
You will be thanked as an associate producer on one episode of the show in the show's credits, plus be personally thanked by a member of the show's cast. You will also be credited similarly on IMDB plus receive copious thank yous on all socials.
Claimed: 4 of 10
$2,500
Series Executive Producer
You'll rocket to the top of the industry heap as an Executive Producer in our series credits, on IMDB, and, most importantly, in our hearts. You can even give us notes, if you want. We might not listen, but you can give them!
Claimed: 1 of 20
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
You might recall an event in early 2020 that shuttered all live shows. Live theatre: closed. Standup: closed. Improv: yes, and.
But where did those comedy persons go when the pandemic hit? They had to go somewhere. Do they live in tunnels like rabbits? Don't be silly. We can't afford tunnels. Or rabbits.
In our case, we came together online. We did weekly streams together. We wrote jokes on Discord. Circumstances were far from ideal, but we found if we could overlook the various downsides to global pandemic the group of collaborators became pretty great.
We've made a lot of work together over the last year. Now we're ready to take this show -- well, not on the road, as such, since we'll be producing this show completely remotely but -- to the big time. The toppermost of the poppermost! The tip top of the mip mop!
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